Office of the Historian

501.BC Indonesia/3–2548: Telegram

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

confidential
Batavia, March 25, 1948—4 p. m.

245. Gocus 200. Riphagen called March 24 to say that Palar1 had sent SC letter dated 19 March2 in which on instruction his government, he lodged complaint regarding formation east Sumatra state March 15 “under sponsorship Netherlands Government”. Protest made on ground formation east Sumatra state violation Renville Agreement. Apparently Palar expects SC discuss this when SC receives GOC’s report re West Java and Madura.

Vredenburch regards this maneuver as breach agreed procedure for coordinating periodic reports to SC. Believes Palar’s letter may have been predated March 19 in order avoid appearance breach procedural agreement. Vredenburch also regards substance Palar’s letter further evidence Republic’s insincerity since there is nothing in Renville Agreement prevent provisional organization states.

It difficult foresee time required reach settlement here if there are to be discussions in SC each time GOC submits reports. Republic fully aware no real progress can be made in negotiating terms settlement [Page 127] here while such discussions are being carried on in SC. For this and other reasons (Gocus 2013), it becoming abundantly clear Republic no hurry reach settlement. Whether Republic expects some specific advantage accrue through endeavor precipitate SC discussions is not clear, however, since Republic could have no reason expect specific recommendations re terms settlement from SC.4

Netherlands delegation will reopen question agreed procedure for coordinating reports to SC at next meeting Steering Committee afternoon March 30. US Delegation will meanwhile press in GOC necessity maintaining agreed procedure and will discuss matter with Indonesian Delegation along lines final paragraph Gocus 191.5

Would appreciate soonest Department’s appraisal chances SC’s reopening discussion Indonesian question on occasion future reports GOC. Also appreciate indication general line US would take in SC in event discussion reopened.

Department pass Hague.6

Livengood
  1. Lambertus Nicodemus Palar, Indonesian observer at the United Nations.↩
  2. For text, see SC, 3rd yr., Suppl. (Jan.–March), p. 40, doc. S/701.↩
  3. Infra.↩
  4. For text of telegram from GOC to the Security Council on March 25, see SC, 3rd yr., Suppl. (Jan.–March), p. 41. This text was reported in telegram 251, March 25, from Batavia (Goc 203).↩
  5. Telegram 232, March 20, 1 p. m., p. 125.↩
  6. This was done the same day.↩