501.BC Indonesia/6–1949: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State 1
546. Gocus 731. Met with dozen including RepDel, NethDel and three BFO’s in Blom’s quarters 18, p. m., for three hours, developing draft document on RTC plans.
Van Royen told me alone of unhappiness over story of AP correspondent from Batavia visiting Bangka who reported interviews wherein Sukarno criticized alleged delays by Netherlands in restoration, etc., and insisted through press on plan Roem put up to us night 17 re return of leaders to Jogja by June 27. Such Republican publicity together with revived Australian and Indian criticism only adds to burden consummate genuinely fair agreements with Indonesians soonest. I am convinced of Van Royen’s good intentions and confident best results can be achieved by refraining from expressions of doubt to Hague on our part that may be passed on to him. If impasse should arise, I would prefer first exhaust my efforts with Van Royen and Lovink. Again I object to idea trying effect reapprochement with Dutch through weakening on ECA policy at time Netherlands Government still needs to be conscious our firmness (Usgoc 3842). Again I insist Republicans’ interests being more than safeguarded. We are helping Republicans as well as chances for successful restoration and Hague conference if we force their thinking along practical lines into as definite plans and decisions as possible without risking their prestige.
Accepted invitation to meet again in Blom’s quarters 9 a. m. until 1:30 p. m. today with four BFO’s and usual Netherlands and Republicans. Following draft document was completed:
“1. Aim of RTC.
Aim of RTC is to bring about just and lasting settlement of Indonesian dispute soon as possible by reaching agreement among participants concerning ways and means to accelerate unconditional transfer real and complete sovereignty to USI in accordance with Renville principles.
Participants in RTC undertake strive for convening of conference by August 1, 1949 and for completion of conference within two months thereafter. Participants undertake ratify agreements resulting from conference within six weeks after its termination. Consequently sovereignty should be transferred to USI before end 1949.
[Page 450]2. Participants.
Participants RTC will be:
- (1)
- Representatives Government of Netherlands;
- (2)
- Representatives of Government of Republic of Indonesia; one and two parties in Indonesian dispute before SC;
- (3)
- BFO (Federal Consultative Assembly) representing areas in Indonesia other than Republic, as far as they are members this organization.
3. UNCI .
UNCI will participate in RTC accordance with its terms of reference as they have been established by SC. UNCI will be responsible for providing SC with reports of conference.
4. Procedure of RTC.
- (1)
- Conference itself will decide upon its rules of procedure, in addition to points established in this present document;
- (2)
- Formal and informal meetings shall be held;
- (3)
- Formal meetings shall be held with UNCI;
- (4)
- Informal meetings shall be held with or without UNCI as circumstances may require;
- (5)
- Resolutions shall be passed at formal meetings;
- (6)
- RTC shall give representatives of minorities (European, Chinese and Arabic) opportunity express their views to conference in all matters which are deemed to concern their interests.
- (7)
- Applications of representatives other significant interests who wish express their views may be considered by conference.
5. Results of conference.
Results of conference shall be laid down in documents and agreements binding upon parties thereto. These documents and agreements shall be subject to ratification and shall include A.OP. [among others] charter of transfer of sovereignty and statute of Netherlands–Indonesian Union, establishing fundamental provisions of future cooperation.
6. Ratification of agreements reached at RTC.
Documents and agreements referred to sub–5 shall be submitted immediately afterwards to Netherlands States-General, to provisional representative body of Republican Indonesia and, in way to be decided upon in due time, to representative bodies of BFO areas.
7. Items of agenda.
a. Provisional constitution of USI.
Sovereignty will be transferred to Provisional National Federal Government of USI which shall function on basis of a provisional constitution.
- (1)
- Provisional constitution shall include provisions with regard to structure and powers of Provisional Federal Government;
- (2)
- It shall stipulate that existing legislation insofar as it is not inconsistent with provisions of provisional constitution or with agreements reached by RTC, shall remain in force until replaced by legislation [Page 451] enacted by competent organizations according to rules to be worked out in provisional constitution.
- (3)
- All powers of Netherlands supreme legislative body, of Crown and of Governor-General, including those which Government-General had in consultation with “Volksraad” or “Raad van Nederlands–Indie” shall be vested in Provisional Federal Government. Supreme authority with regard to foreign relations and federal armed forces shall exclusively be vested in Provisional Federal Government.
- (4)
- Provisional constitution shall not contain any provision inconsistent with charter of transfer sovereignty, statute of Netherlands–Indonesian Union or other documents relating to future cooperation.
- (5)
- Provisional constitution shall include provisions to guarantee effective realization of rights of self-determination of peoples of Indonesia and holding of free and secret elections for Constituent Assembly.
b. Charter of transfer of sovereignty.
Charter shall include following provisions:
- (1)
- Transfer of sovereignty shall be real, complete and unconditional;
- (2)
- A union shall be established by Kingdom of Netherlands and USI on basis of voluntary and equal partnership with equal rights;
- (3)
- An agreement with regard to transfer of rights, powers and obligations of Indonesia (Netherlands–Indies) to USI.
c. Fundamental provisions of statute of Netherlands–Indonesian Union.
In union neither of two partners, namely Netherlands and USI, shall be expected transfer or concede any more rights to union than other. Nor will this transfer include any rights other than those which either partner may voluntarily decide to concede in conviction of serving thereby as best he can common interests as well as his own. Union shall not be a super-state.
d. Observation of implementation of agreements.
UNCI or another UN agency shall observe in Indonesia implementation of agreements reached at RTC.
e. Other items.
Other items to be discussed at RTC shall include: foreign relations, rights of self-determination of peoples, contracts with self-governing regions, nationality and citizenship, financial and economic relations and cultural relations, military agreements and withdrawal of Netherlands forces, exchange of high commissioners, status of civil servants functioning at time of transfer of sovereignty and New Guinea.”
Republicans flying Bangka Monday for Hatta’s approval this draft. Van Royen telegraphing text Hague and discussing with Maarseveen on arrival Batavia 20. Being cleared with UNCI colleagues. When approved from all sides document will be formalized with UNCI simultaneously with announcement to press of date Netherlands evacuation and with secret exchange letters re three Committee 2 documents. At that meeting both Republicans and BFO’s plan register objections to discussing New Guinea as other than part of area over [Page 452] which sovereignty to be transferred. Van Royen will reply that positions not prejudiced by inclusion item New Guinea on agenda but will insist on such inclusion.
Agreement to have UNCI continue springs from Indonesian desire have witness to see sovereignty transferred and Netherlands military withdrawal and Netherlands desire have witness to see Indonesians hold proper elections.
Group asked and I promised UNCI would compile “terms of reference” as set forth in various SC directives and distribute this informally to three delegations. I refused Roem’s request that annex giving and interpreting such terms reference be attached to document above quoted. I also agreed have UNCI Secretariat draw up suggestions for conference organization and procedure. Republicans have dropped idea requiring RTC under UNCI auspices. Question of principal chairman of conference will probably be deferred until convening Hague and then either be Netherlands Minister or rotated between him and Indonesians. Signed Cochran.3