856e.00/2–448
The Consul General at Batavia ( Livengood ) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 17.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that on February 2, 1948, Vice President Hatta issued the following official statement: [Page 91]
“In connection with the signing of the Renville Agreement, the Government of the Republic herewith states that it has no objection if Republican officials and Republicans in general as representatives of the people will participate in conferences and elections, either active or passive, held by the Government in Dutch-occupied territories.”
Enquiries received by the Republican Government from Republicans in Dutch-held territories regarding their participation in the forthcoming West Java Conference served as incentive for the issuance of the above-mentioned statement. One Republican official indicated to a member of this Consulate General’s staff that as the conferences are going to be held anyway, the Republicans might just as well have their adherents present at least as observers.
Respectfully yours,