501.BC Indonesia/5–449: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State 1
403. Gocus 683. Roem, Leimena and Djuanda talked with me for one hour last night. Expressed disappointment in Netherlands’ revision draft material. Said their talks with Hatta had established final RepDel position. Roem said they were considering going Bangka and returning RepDel mandate to Hatta since they feared they could not arrive at agreement with NethDel. I said entirely wrong think of such step. I pointed out that there had been no direct conversations between Van Royen and Roem since each had transmitted to other through me his revision of original draft material. I was sure Van Royen could make certain changes in his draft and said its normal course of negotiations for final draft to be reached through each side setting forth its ideas and then getting together for reconciliation. Roem said he would consult his delegation and let me hear soonest.
This morning I brought Herremans and Critchley to date with respect progress informal talks in which I have acted as intermediary at request chairmen two parties. I told him [them] I hoped get two chairmen together today in another effort reach agreement on draft. I said if this failed I would suggest to chairmen they consult their governments on their respective positions or come into UNCFI meeting and state them formally.
Van Royen for NethDel and Roem, Leimena, Djuanda, Supomo and Pringgo Digdo for RepDel met with me 11:30 to 1:30 today. Went over NethDel and RepDel drafts sentence by sentence. Reconciled some points in good atmosphere and each side took certain suggestions under consideration. Are to consult their delegations and meet again with me 5:30 this afternoon in effort achieve further and perhaps full reconciliation.
[Page 401]Van Royen and I entirely mindful possibility early discussion Indonesian question UNGA and doing utmost reach accord soonest. Signed Cochran.
- Repeated in telegram 388, may 4, 7 p. m., to The Hague.↩