Office of the Historian

501.BC Indonesia/1–2848: Telegram

The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State

confidential
Batavia, January 28, 1948—9 a. m.

80. From Graham No. 119. Mytel 109, January 21.1 Draft report to SC completed Renville last week is simple, factual, chronological account negotiations leading Renville Agreement with relevant documents annexed, including Xmas program and parties replies thereto.2 (Vredenburch hoped Xmas program could be excluded but understood it certain be brought up in SC discussions any event.) As far as it goes, draft report noncontroversial and likely be adopted by GOC with little change. Question inclusion reports of Madura and Rawagedeh inquiries remains unsettled, however: three Madura reports exist, one by each delegation. AusDel report is same as USDel report (which composed by Brandis3 as US civil adviser on team) but with constructions placed on evidence charging Dutch violations SC resolution. US report, while presenting Dutch case fully, makes plain Dutch had not even landed Madura on August 1 and against nominal opposition brought bulk of island under control after August 4. Report exposes serious doubt justifications for action cited by Dutch and leaves no question that main Dutch operations on island took place after arrival GOC. Belgian report composed by Van der Stidhelen, largely at variance with other two. Brandis will give Department copy his report on arrival, about January 29, and explain extraordinary confusion characterizing efforts produce single agreed report.

Rawagedeh report agreed on by GOC as whole and is probably even more damaging to Dutch than US and Australian Madura reports. Highlights given mytel 87, January 8.1

AusDel taking view no report to SC omitting these reports will be satisfactory to them.

USDel inclined to position Madura and Rawagedeh reports should for present be retained in GOC records for inclusion later SC report but be excluded from current report on grounds that (1) reports of two enquiries alone can have only most limited value in clarifying situation here; (2) both enquiries here undertaken at Republic’s request, although Dutch stated they also wished Madura investigated and (3) discussion on reports in SC could lead only new waves of recriminations and charges and countercharges of atrocities which might seriously jeopardize truce and by involving GOC greatly impair its usefulness.

[Page 84]

Final decision may not be reached until three representatives GOC meet Lake Success. [Graham.]

Livengood
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. For text of GOC’s 1st interim report, submitted on February 10 to the Security Council, see doc. S/649/Rev. 1, SC, 3rd yr., Spec. Suppl. No. 1, pp. 1–77.↩
  3. Henry P. Brandis, Professor of Law, University of North Carolina, was personal assistant to Dr. Graham.↩
  4. Not printed.↩