501.BC Indonesia/12–2048: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State 1
6374. Due to USSR, Ukraine absence, SC December 20 held informal meeting Indonesian question, agreeing begin substantive discussion present urgent situation Wednesday December 22 time to be agreed USSR. President Van Langenhove (Belgium) believed three-day notice tacitly agreed to but agreed follow Syrian suggestion that information be obtained from GOC, parties.
Jessup expressed grave concern sudden development, noting Belgian, Australian members GOC in Kaliurang held incommunicado from US member and Australian deputy Batavia. Urged Van Langenhove request Netherlands authorities give full facilities GOC members to communicate, meet, report to SC.
China wanted immediate presentation available information perhaps by US, others, but Van Langenhove forestalled this noting impossible since provisional agenda not adopted. Latter also agreed Jessup’s suggestion for Wednesday meeting as early in day as possible with specific communication to Russians explaining urgency of situation.2
- Repeated in telegram 653, December 20, 8 p. m., to The Hague, and as 678 to Batavia.↩
- For resumption of discussion on Indonesia in the United Nations Security Council, see SC, 3rd yr., no. 131 (December 20), pp. 1–8; for beginning of formal discussion, see ibid., no. 132 (December 22), pp. 1 ff. For Mr. Jessup’s statement introducing a draft resolution, see ibid., pp. 42–49; for text of draft resolution. December 22, see ibid., Suppl. (Dec), document S/1142, p. 294. Mr. Jessup’s statement is also printed in Department of State Bulletin, January 2, 1949, pp 24–27.↩