856d.00/10–948: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Netherlands (Baruch) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received October 9—3:49 p. m.]
682. Saw Foreign Minister this morning and was informed (reference Department’s 499, October 8, sent Batavia 481, Usgoc 159) that [Page 400] Instructions have been sent to Schuurman and Van Kleffens that Netherlands Government prepared to receive suggestions from Cochran modifying Netherlands covering letter in any sense he considers essential and that sympathetic consideration would be given thereto.
Reference Netherlands counterproposals (oral notes I and II), Netherlands Government insists these be “sent to Djokja.” Secretary General has discussed interpretation this phrase with Embassy officers and our understanding is that it is quite flexible; that Netherlands authorities will probably find acceptable procedure of handling which resulted in Republican authorities seeing these documents either in Djokja or Batavia a few days before discussion in GOC, but not necessarily before they have been asked to submit and have submitted any amendments they may wish to make in Cochran plan.
Netherlands Government insists procedure adopted must also make unequivocably sure that Netherlands document (notes I and II) has status of formal GOC working paper entitled to full consideration in conjunction with Cochran proposals. Embassy believes Cochran may use considerable latitude in handling Netherlands documents provided Netherlands’ views outlined are met. Embassy suggests Cochran’s recommendations for revision Netherlands covering letter might contain language that would facilitate adoption some such procedure.
Sent Department 682; Department pass Batavia.1
- This was done the same day.↩