501.BC Indonesia/10–2848: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia
541. Usgoc 183. During conversation with Dept officials Oct 27, Soemitro, Soedarpo and Thamboe expressed personal opnion that Repub might desire at least some 3 months to prepare for elections provided it could secure satisfactory guarantees for free expression opinion in campaign. They added that Repub would desire elections even under unfavorable conditions. It occurred to Dept officers that should postponement elections materialize to be principal issue separating parties in negotiations, Repub’s desire for considerable period of preparation might be used as basis compromise.