501.BC Indonesia/10–1148: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia
491. Usgoc 162. Counselor US Emb Hague has begun conversations with Dept officers Oct 11 concerning Neth position Indonesia. Neth Govt gave him for delivery Dept elaborate documentation showing alleged alarming increase truce violations, infiltration, acts of violence including murder, in territory controlled by Neth and purporting to show that principal successes Repub Govt against Communists have been achieved by Tan Malakka division Trotskyite Communists not regular Repub troops. Counselor states Neth Govt on several occasions recent weeks has intimated deterioration situation cannot be allowed continue and expresses his opinion that recent increase acts violence and subversive activities may be used by Neth as [Page 407] justification for such action as Neth may feel necessary in premises. He does not exclude possibility of military action Indonesia including Reputf territory where Neth feels it has responsibilities of sovereign for maintenance law and order.
Counselor gives as his considered opinion that Neth Govt sincerely desires negotiated settlement with Repub to any other course of action but that too severe strain imposed on present coalition cabinet to make concessions vis-à-vis elections etc, may result in its collapse which, he believes, would be followed by one of more rightist tendency.
When queried Counselor said he believed that Neth Govt realized necessity reaching arrangement with Hatta and that those Dutch policies which are weakening Hatta are probably vestigial in character and do not reflect any basic desire Neth Govt to weaken or destroy Hatta. He believes Neth pursuit interim govt via Bandung states is not inconsistent with and possibly complementary to efforts before GOC but that in any case Neth wishes to have Bandung federation system to fall back on should GOC negotiations not produce satisfactory and reasonably prompt results.
Counselor believes Neth position on not holding elections prior to formation interim govt as provided in Cochran plan is based on strong convictions that growing disorder and terror make such elections meaningless and even dangerous. However, he believes Neth might entertain compromise solution along some such lines as following: establishment as soon as possible constituent assembly, composed of members who will be chosen by present authorities in territories where elections are not now possible and of elected members where elections are possible. GOC would decide where elections are possible and provide facilities for those elections regency by regency as soon as conditions permit. In this manner constituent assembly originally composed for the most part of members appointed by the constituent states will be replaced by members elected under conditions which GOC certifies as suitable. Counselor offers this proposal as his own idea and wishes it clear that it does not originate with Neth Fonoff although conversations with Dutch officials outside Fonoff have led him to believe that some such compromise might be feasible.
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