893.01/8–2949: Telegram
The Consul at Batavia (Abbey) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 29—9:14 a. m.]
710. Reference Department’s circtel August 19, 5 a. m. From sampling, following believed will be local reaction.
- a.
- If recognition withheld by US, UK, France, prestige Western Powers will rise.
- b.
- If recognition withheld for reasonable length time, local reaction will depend upon circumstances intervening but even so would have somewhat deleterious effect.
- c.
- If other Western Powers recognize but US shows firm disposition not to do so, US prestige will rise sharply.
If US recognizes, will be believed locally due to materialistic objectives and will adversely affect any anti-Communist program which might be set up here. Various locals think British will recognize Communists because of Hong Kong, but believe this a mistake.
If Chinese Communists recognized, it will give great spurt to Chinese Communists here. One Chinese editor in Surabaja (Chinese Communist stronghold) commented to member Consulate General staff, “When and if the Western Powers recognize the Communist [Page 70] government, Chinese locally will support it and adopt the Chinese Government line.”