501.BC Indonesia/1–1249: Telegram

The Acting United States Representative at the United Nations ( Jessup ) to the Acting Secretary of State

secret   us urgent

30. The following is suggested draft resolution in Indonesian case for your consideration. Our comments follow in another telegram:

The SC,

Recalling its resolutions of 1 August 1947, 25 August 1947, and 1 November 1947, with respect to the Indonesian question;

Taking note with approval of the reports submitted to the SC by its Committee of Good Offices for Indonesia;

Considering that its resolutions of 24 December 1948 and 28 December 1948 have not been fully complied with;

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Considering that the maintenance of Netherlands forces in continued occupation throughout the territory of the Republic of Indonesia is incompatible with the achievement of a just and lasting settlement of the Indonesian dispute;

Noting that the parties continue to adhere to the principles and democratic procedures of the Renville agreement and agree that elections should be held throughout Indonesia for the purpose of establishing a constituent assembly at the earliest practicable date, and further agree that the SC should arrange for the observation of such elections by an appropriate agency of the UN: and that the representative of the Netherlands has disclosed that his government desires to have such elections held not later than the third quarter of 1949;

Noting that the Government of the Netherlands has disclosed its intention to transfer sovereignty to the United States of Indonesia during the course of the year 1950;

Conscious of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and in order that the rights, claims and position of the Government of the Netherlands and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia may not be prejudiced;

(1)
Calls upon the Government of the Netherlands to insure the immediate discontinuance of military operations, and calls upon the Government of the Republic simultaneously to instruct its forces to cooperate in the restoration of peace throughout the area affected.
(2)
Calls upon the Government of the Netherlands to release immediately and unconditionally all political prisoners arrested by them since 17 December 1948 in Indonesia, and to permit the officials of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to return at once to Jogjakarta in order that they may discharge their responsibilities under paragraph (1) above and in order to exercise their appropriate functions in full freedom. The Netherlands authorities shall afford to the Republic of Indonesia such facilities as may reasonably be required by that government for its effective function in Jogjakarta and for communication with officials of the Republic elsewhere in Indonesia.
(3)
Recommends that, in the interest of carrying out the expressed objectives and desires of both parties to establish a federal independent and sovereign United States of Indonesia at the earliest possible date, negotiations be undertaken as soon as possible by representatives of the Government of the Netherlands and representatives of the Republic of Indonesia with the assistance and under the auspices of the commission referred to in paragraph (4) below on the basis of the procedures and principles set forth in the Linggadjatti and Renville agreements and on the basis of the proposals submitted to the parties by the United States representative on the Committee of Good Offices on September 10, 1948; in particular that the elections which are to be held for the purpose of choosing representatives to an Indonesian constituent assembly should be completed by ————, and that the transfer of sovereignty over Indonesia by the Government of the Netherlands [Page 146] to the United States of Indonesia should take place not later than ———.
(4)

Terminates the Consular Commission and transfers all its functions to the Good Offices Committee which shall henceforth be known as the Security Council Commission for Indonesia. The Commission shall act as the representative of the SC in Indonesia and shall have all of the functions assigned to the Good Offices Committee by the SC since December 18, the functions conferred on it by the terms of this resolution, and such other functions as the Council hereafter may assign to it. The Commission shall act by majority vote.

The Commission shall assist the parties in the negotiations to be undertaken under paragraph (3) above and is authorized to make recommendations to them or to the SC with respect to any of its functions.

The Commission is authorized to observe on behalf of the UN the elections to be held throughout Indonesia and to make recommendations regarding the conditions necessary to insure that such elections are free and democratic, and to guarantee freedom of Assembly, speech and publication at all times, provided that such guarantee is not construed so as to include the advocacy of violence or reprisals.

The Commission shall immediately determine the extent to which consistent with reasonable requirements of public security, areas in Java, Sumatra and Madura (outside of the city of Jogjakarta) should be progressively returned to the administration of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and shall supervise such transfer. The Commission shall determine which if any Netherlands forces shall be retained temporarily in any area in order to assist in the maintenance of law and order and in the supervision of the elections.

The Commission shall render periodic reports to the Council, and special reports whenever the Commission deems necessary.

The Commission shall employ such observers, officers and other persons as it deems necessary and may utilize the services of the military assistants placed at the disposal of the Committee of Good Offices under the SC’s resolution of 1 November 1947.

(5)
Requests the SYG to make available to the Commission such staff, funds and other facilities as are required by the Commission for the discharge of its functions.
(6)
Calls upon the Government of the Netherlands and the Republic of Indonesia to cooperate fully in giving effect to the provisions of this resolution.1

Jessup
  1. A revised draft resolution was sent the Department in telegram 38, January 14, 10:15 a. m., from New York (not printed), after consultation with the Department. The latter reported in its telegram 23, Usgoc 274, January 14, 6 p. m., to Batavia (repeated as 33 to The Hague and as 163 to London), that this draft was being circulated in the Security Council “as working paper, not at this stage as formal resolution.” Text of the draft was sent in telegram 24, Usgoc 275, January 14, 7 p. m., to Batavia (repeated as 35 to The Hague and as 175 to London).