501.BC Indonesia/1–1048: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia ( Livengood ) to the Secretary of State
priority
31. From Graham 89. USDel grateful Deptel 43, January 7. USDel principles for settlement (mytel 84, January 6), redrafted to conform third paragraph Deptel 43, were formally presented January 6 to GOC, accepted in substance, and referred drafting committee. Final GOC action expected January 10. Van Zeeland apparently in agreement desirability plan. Australian delegation not enthusiastic. Netherlands position makes it necessary inform Republic Netherlands will refuse consider principles if Republic acceptance truce plan not obtained.
Republic reply truce plan delayed. Sjarifuddin departed US plane morning January 9 to pick up Sjahrir in Singapore and Hatta1 in Pakanbaroe and take both to Djocja for meeting on truce plan with GOC. GOC departing for Djocja morning January 11 probably to remain 2 days.
Vredenburch has informed GOC as follows (quotation is from cable sent to Netherlands Govt by Vredenburch, of which paraphrase given GOC):
“We expected an unequivocal reply from the Republic Govt as to whether they accepted the last proposals or not, latest 48 hours after the beginning of the conference, which was to begin not later than 12 o’clock a. m. the eleventh of this month, and that every qualified acceptance or acceptance with reserves would be considered as a rejection; that if these proposals should not have been accepted by that time, we should then consider ourselves no longer bound to these proposals; that the delegation would then have to ask the govt for further instructions, but that I had every reason to believe that the govt would decide to resume their freedom of action; that this would, in my opinion, imply that the efforts of the GOC had not met with the success hoped for, and that this would be one of the factors in determining the further policy of the govt; that I finally made yet another urgent appeal to Dr. Graham, Mr. Justice Kirby and Mr. Van Zeeland to make the Republic Govt see reason, emphasizing the extent to which the position of the Djocja Govt had constantly deteriorated; that in the event the committee would deem it desirable, I declared myself willing to accompany the GOC to Fort Dekockor DjocJakarta [Page 72] in order personally to explain once more the Netherlands viewpoint to the Republic leaders”.
GOC decided leave to Indonesians question Vredenburch going Djocja.
Australian delegation continues give impression Republic will not accept Netherlands plan. Believe one or two members Australian delegation consider Republic doomed any event and might as well go down with splash in SC. USDel will endeavor convince Australian delegation value USDel principles for settlement and possibility Dutch acceptance. [Graham.]
- Vice President of the Indonesian Republic.↩