456D.509/10–1050: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Indonesia
379. Ref Deptel 162, Aug 15,1 fol for ur info: Officer Brit Emb called at Dept Sep 27 to advise that in late July Brit FonOff had been anxious obtain Indo coop control exports to Commie China, particularly petroleum. He mentioned that at that time US had indicated intention explore question tactics with Brit, Fr and Dutch.
Said meanwhile matter had been reconsidered London and FonOff now felt inadvisable approach Indos as (1) Indos wld react extreme sensitivity any proposal for action which wld appear align Indos against Soviets, (2) wld be undesirable develop in Indo idea they cld control destination Shell-Stanvae exports. He then alluded Security Council action Indos application UN membership2 and said while this may have dulled Indo polit sensitivity this matter wld still be difficult problem with them.
He observed all oil exports Indo controlled by Brit and US Govts, US as result Dept’s requests embargo Amer oil companies re shipments Commie China, and Brit action to same effect.
[Page 663]In reply his inquiry as to progress made by US re approaches Indo this matter, he informed Dept had also noted polit difficulties.
Validity his assumption item numbered (2) not raised by Dept at this discussion.
- Not printed. It raised the question of the wisdom of an approach to the Indonesian Government on control of strategic exports to North Korea and Communist China (456D.509/8–1550). In telegram 256, August 22, from Djakarta (not printed), Ambassador H. Merle Cochran recommended that any such approach be made informally and separately by the United States, rather than jointly with the British, Dutch, and French (756D.5 MAP/8–2250). Concerning an Indonesian commitment to the United States regarding nonexport of strategic goods to enemies of the United States, see telegram 226, August 16, from Djakarta, p. 1051.↩
- Indonesia had recently been admitted to the United Nations; for related documentation, see pp. 1066 ff.↩