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

501.BC Indonesia/12–2748

Memorandum by Mr. Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo to the Acting Secretary of State

New York, December 27, 1948.

The Acting Head of the Indonesian Delegation pays his compliments to the Honorable Acting Secretary of State and has the honor to convey the following:

1) We herewith express our deep appreciation for the course taken by the United States Government with regard to the armed conflict in Indonesia. The United States Delegation to the Security Council, together with those of Syria and Colombia, submitted a resolution which called on the Dutch to cease hostilities forthwith and to withdraw their troops to the lines they previously held prior to their armed attack against the Republic of Indonesia on December 18. The views upheld by the United States Delegation in the recent emergency session of the Security Council which was to cope with the Indonesian situation were based on justice and a sense of fair play. It is only on such principles indeed that wise statesmanship, especially in its international aspects, can prevail.

It is most regrettable that the position taken by the United States Delegation has not been shared by a sufficient number of the distinguished members of the Security Council. Instead the Security Council has issued a resolution which is not only inadequate but which tends perhaps unwillingly to make the position of the victim of armed aggression and brutal force even worse. We feel it our duty to bring to the attention of the United States Government and to make it aware of the potential dangers of the present situation resulting from the Security Council’s recent action or failure of action to halt an armed aggression.

2) We do not know to what extent the distinguished members of the Security Council realize how utterly damaging their action or failure of action has been to the authority and prestige of the United Nations organization as a body to settle international conflicts as well as to the validity of international agreements. We feel sure, however, that the Security Council’s decision to issue only a “cease-fire” order and its refusal to compel the Dutch to withdraw their troops to pre-attack lines has been a great disappointment to the people of the world at large. It has brought a considerable amount of disillusion in the hearts and minds of the people of an entire continent—that part of the world called Asia. It has made the Asian countries realize that one of its brother-nations can be invaded by a foreign power without fear on the part of the aggressor that it will be halted by world action after it has gained territory from its victims. Recent signs for a solidification of the bloc of Southeast Asian countries are in themselves a warning of things to come.

3) As we submitted in our previous memorandum, the Republic of Indonesia has always looked upon the United Nations as a just mediator to bring about peace and justice in our country. Yet, despite the fact that here is a plain case of armed aggression, despite the fact that the United Nations’ own Good Offices Committee has expressed no doubt whatever as to which party committed a breach of peace, the Security Council has issued a resolution which under the circumstances can only be to the disadvantage of the Republic of Indonesia—the victim of armed aggression.

In terms of modern equipment, the Republic’s means of defense are inadequate as compared with the Netherlands’ land, sea and air forces. It would be sheer folly on our part to put up a frontal defense. The only logical thing to do is to resort to a guerilla warfare which we can continue, I feel sure, for years to come. In view of the only type of defense—guerilla warfare—available to us, the Security Council’s order to cease fire is clearly and obviously to the advantage of the Netherlands troops. Even so, the Netherlands authorities have already given proof of their defiance of the United Nations’ order. It is their purpose to continue to occupy enough positions in our country in order to put before the world a fait accompli. The Security Council’s decision bears the danger of legalizing future Dutch action against Indonesian armies fighting a guerilla war to defend our inalienable right to freedom and independence.

It might be the intention of the Dutch, while at the moment continuing their military campaign in defiance of the United Nations, to profess a nominal “cease-fire” at some future date, after having taken sufficient positions in our territory. But on our part the struggle has only begun. Our guerilla defense will have started on a substantial scale at that possible future date of nominal Dutch “cease-fire”. The Dutch then would have a so-called legal pretext to indulge in so-called “mop-ping-up” operations against so-called “unlawful terrorists”.

Let it therefore not be said in the future that the Indonesians are people of lawless extremists and terrorists. The truth is that it will be a case of firm determination on the part of freedom-loving people to defend what they consider their birth-right—independence and freedom from a foreign colonial yoke.

4) The Netherlands Authorities thus far have also failed to comply with the Security Council’s order to release immediately the President and other top leaders of the Republic of Indonesia.

5) We note that the Netherlands authorities, to excuse their treacherous attack against the Republic of Indonesia, have once again resorted to the argument that their act was a “containment of communism”.

It might be recalled that more than two months ago, our government put down a communist uprising in less than three weeks time. What further proof does a government need to contradict the Dutch misrepresentation of facts?

We wish to reiterate that our government has never been, is not and will never be communist-dominated. Our government, while grimly determined to fight for freedom and independence has clearly evidenced by concrete action that it simultaneously aims at building up a community in which democracy, justice and human dignity will find a proper place.

6) In view of the Security Council’s inadequacy of action to halt the aggressor in Indonesia, we therefore in the name of justice and democracy, reiterate our requests as stated in our memorandum of December 20, 1948, to the United States Government¹ as the guardian of international peace and justice. We are appreciative of the fact that ECA allocations to the Dutch controlled territories in Indonesia have been suspended. We feel, however, that only by a complete suspension of all ECA allocations to the Netherlands, the government of that country, having committed an act of aggression, can be brought to order.

Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo

Acting Head of the Indonesian
Delegation to the United Nations

1. See memorandum of conversation, December 20.