Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VI

501.BC Indonesia/12–2548: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Holmes) to the Secretary of State ¹

secret

London, December 25, 1948—3 p. m.

5370. From Dickover:² ReDeptel 4755.³ Unable contact Bevin this Christmas morning but saw Paul Grey who stated:

(1) that British have been informed both in The Hague and London that Dutch will not accept SC resolution re withdrawing forces;

(2) that British Embassy Hague has been instructed urge Dutch Government not make blank refusal of resolution but make conciliatory reply and remove immediately obstructions to functioning of GOC;

(3) that Bevin thinks that Dutch should announce as soon as possible concrete and bold plan for pacific settlement of dispute, including elections, establishment interim government and fixing definite date for transfer sovereignty;

(4) that Foreign Office doubts advisability pressing Dutch too hard in view of their well known obstinacy;

(5) that British [government?] has never given Dutch impression of sympathy with them but sees no necessity of ramming head against brick wall and prefers constructive approach;

(6) that not only Western Union will suffer by clash between Dutch and other nations but relations between East Asia and Western Powers will be strained;

(7) that will try to obtain decision on point raised in Deptel under reference with greatest urgency. Probably more later.⁴

Holmes

1. Repeated in telegram 703, December 29, 1 p. m., to Batavia (Usgoc 266) and 4960 to Paris (for Jessup).
2. Erie R. Dickover, Counselor of Embassy.
3. December 24, p. 603.
4. Telegram 5392, December 29, 5 p. m., from London, stated that the British probably could not support a request to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion. (501.BC Indonesia/12–2948)