501.BC Indonesia/1–2148: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State 1
64. Graham No. 108. At January 19 plenary session in Renville, replies received to 6 political principles from NethDel (mytel 1042) and IndoDel. Latter stated IndoDel agreed to 6 principles on strength of conceptions and clarifications given by GOC to IndoDel at formal meeting at Kaliurang (Djocja) January 13 and which were recorded in official minutes and conceptions and clarifications contained in statement made by GOC in Renville January 17.
Private reaction NethDel, who had not seen record Kaliurang meeting, most unfavorable. Vredenburch charged IndoDel reply was conditional acceptance and therefore did not meet conditions of unqualified acceptance which had been required of NethDel. USDel conversations with IndoDel after meeting failed produce satisfactory clarification IndoDel reply.
Following day, after studying record Kaliurang meeting, Vredenburch expressed to USDel even stronger dissatisfaction, taking view that IndoDel had in effect not accepted 6 principles. He drew attention to several statements made by members GOC to Republic of meeting in question which in Netherlands view were quite unacceptable and at variance with principles themselves. These chiefly involved replies to question by Roem3 whether in opinion GOC continuance by Republic of its present foreign relations would amount contravention of 6 principles. Kirby had answered that nothing in 6 principles would prevent Republic from carrying on in way it had been carrying on until something to contrary was agreed on by parties. Van Zeeland has stated there was nothing in first of 6 principles which touched present status Republic. Vredenburch took view GOC in eagerness to obtain agreement had most reprehensibly misled Republic, pointing to Republic-Egyptian agreement just concluded, and expressed severest criticism GOC methods. However, he clearly wished prevent blowup of truce agreement and stated he was sending pertinent documents to Hague by airmail rather than telegram in order give GOC time rectify situation before official Netherlands comments presented.
USDel most concerned by situation created by IndoDel reply. Critchley agrees best solution is prevail upon Republic submit new reply accepting 6 principles unconditionally on understanding GOC would make public its clarifications on basis such clarifications would [Page 81] be binding on either party. USDel hopes clarifications may be drafted so as meet agreement both sides, believing record Kaliurang meeting, which very incomplete, is misleading with respect what was actually said. Question Republic’s foreign representatives will be most difficult however since both parties attach greatest importance this matter. Problem will probably be one of working out modus vivendi enabling Republic recall its representatives gradually and without loss face or of changing their status to satisfy Netherlands.