611.56D/8–450
The Under Secretary of State (Webb) to the Secretary of Defense (Johnson)
My Dear Mr. Secretary: The Department understands that the current thinking of United States military authorities is to the effect that in the event of a US–USSR war, Russia could deny the Middle East oil fields to the United States. The only other large available petroleum production outside the Western Hemisphere lies in Indonesia.
The Department feels reasonably confident that Indonesia would side with the United States in the event of a US–USSR war in the near future. Needless to say the Department is taking, and will continue to take, all practical measures to insure that Indonesia will support the United States in the event of a US–USSR war.
The possibility remains that Indonesia in such a conflict might be hostile to the United States. I suggest, therefore, that the appropriate authorities may wish to develop plans for assuring the availability of Indonesia’s strategically placed petroleum to the United States and the West in the event of US–USSR hostilities in which Indonesia would be hostile to the United States.
Sincerely yours.