501.BC Indonesia/3–448: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia
us urgent
93. Usgoc 73. Urtel 169, March 4. Dept cannot agree with suggestion by Riphagen that GOC persuade Republic not expect continuation of services GOC beyond Republic’s entry into Govt. We believe no lasting settlement will be achieved without full implementation Renville provisions for plebiscites under GOC observation and in this connection we consider it implicit in Renville agreement that GOC will continue, if requested by either party, until final transfer of sovereignty to USI. This should be understood by both parties who should prepare accordingly. While we consider it extremely important that Dutch invite and Republic accept entry into interim govt immediately we do not believe that agreement between the parties or assurances prerequisite thereto ought necessarily to take place of final political agreement (second para urtel 152 of Feb 20). Agreement or assurances prerequisite to entry which would be equivalent of political agreement could well delay entry into interim govt as long as or longer than separate negotiations for political agreement. We therefore believe that both sides should endeavor bring about entry Republic into interim govt as soon as possible, without requiring definitive political agreement, as indication of good faith and to achieve immediate working arrangement. Thereupon final political agreement embodying remaining Renville principles should be agreed upon and implemented.