501.BC Indonesia/5–1949: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia
287. For Cochran: Sukanto, Chief Repub Police, called Dept May 17 to renew request made Oct 19 for carbines, sten and bren guns, and pistols (also ammo), tear gas bombs, jeeps, weapons carriers and motorcycles for equiping Repub Police. Original request was for armament for five thousand police but ltr of authorization from Hatta brought by Sukanto upped figure to ten thousand, which latter thought insufficient. Sukanto maintained mil test of Repub by insurgent elements might come very soon and urged it vital for future Repub be able make its auth unquestionable from start if drift militant elements toward commies to be prevented.
Dept officers expressed sympathetic understanding situation Repub Govt this context but pointed out (1) Dept understanding was that Dutch, obligated by Roem [–] van Royen agreement, provide” essential needs Repub period pending conclusion Hague negotsland (2) two outstanding obstacles to fulfillment request existed in (a) ITS recognition Neth sovereignty interim period and (b) current US policy supply no arms for use Indo, which had applied Dutch requests for arms since end Pacific War. Talk concluded on understanding Dept wld solicit your views re needs Repub in light agreement and wld consider matter further.1
Urinfo, arms wld be exceedingly difficult procure. Mil Assistance Program which wld provide necessary authorization for arms transfers on grant basis and for procurement assistance on cash reimbursable basis not yet submitted Congress and Congressional action not certain. Even after passage Indo needs whether on grant or cash basis [Page 413] wld have to be balanced against other requirements. US stocks insufficient supply all needs. Consequently, competition will be great. At same time, Dept aware Repub may be faced crisis well before then and naturally does not wish run unnecessary risk Indo nationalist elements becoming casualities of expanding Commie power SEA.
- In telegram 471, Gocus 705, May 21, 9 a. m., from Batavia, Mr. Cochran again pointed out he was “working closely with Van Royen toward insuring for Sultan and Sukarno best equipment possible for Jogja residency police” and agreed “entirely with Department’s explanation of situation and oppose US now shipping arms and ammunition to Indonesians.” (501.BC Indonesia/5–2149)↩