501.BC Indonesia/11–1848: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State 1
1008. Gocus 447. Aneta bulletin 18th carried following dated Batavia 17th:
Hatta told nation this evening to remain firm in face mounting difficulties. [“]Firm attitude will help us achieve our goal while weak attitude will play us into hands foreign countries,” he said.
Republican Premier described Stikker talks as helpful but atmosphere impaired by “Batavia”. He singled out especially reports of Dutch Army public relations.
“We shall defend ourselves if we are attacked,” Premier went on. “But if we are left alone we must carry out our promises”.
Hatta then appealed to army and police units to carry out their duties and threatened heaviest punishment against truce violations.
Reaffirming his desire to cooperate with federalists, Hatta said it is silly to speak about “marionette governments” because “we Indonesians have an end to attain, namely freedom for all Indonesia.”
“There should be no antitheses between us and federalists,” he said. “We must join forces with them to achieve our goal on first January 1949.”
Going in detail into Madiun coup he described as national tragedy, Dr. Hatta said ideological struggle has cracked national unity while dissension has been caused by political tug of war.
Hatta said difficulties which are being encountered by people caused by Dutch blockade, Madiun affair and prolonged drought which resulted in crop failures.
“But if we remain firm and united, we shall overcome these difficulties,” he said. Signed Cochran.
- Repeated in telegram Gadel 526, November 18, 6 p. m., to Paris (for Rusk and Bancroft).↩