490.008/11–2651
The British Embassy to the Department of State
top secret by safe hand
Ref. 11941/5/51G
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom have decided to take the following steps to implement the recommendations for action to suppress contraband arms traffic in South-East Asia, which were contained in the report of the Tripartite Military Staff talks held at Singapore in May 1951:—
(i) Indonesia.
His Majesty’s Government have noted the efforts made by the Indonesian Government to purchase considerable quantities of arms from various countries. They will do what they can to prevent Indonesian stock-piling of arms by exercising very strict control, by means of the export licensing system, over all Indonesian attempts to buy arms in the United Kingdom. The supply of arms will be facilitated only when His Majesty’s Government are satisfied that they are essential for the maintenance of internal security in Indonesia. The Indonesian Government have been informed of His Majesty’s Government’s policy.
(ii) The Philippines.
The export licensing system will be used to prevent the supply of any arms or military equipment to the Philippines from the United Kingdom. It is understood that the Philippines obtain such arms as they need from the United States.
2. His Majesty’s Government hope that the United States Government will be willing to take similar action to prevent the purchase of more arms from the United States by Indonesia and the Philippines than they appear to need for the purpose of maintaining internal security. In the case of Indonesia the best way of obtaining the required control would seem to be by consultation between the two Governments on any substantial order which the Indonesians might [Page 118] wish to place, and His Majesty’s Government hope shortly to put forward proposals for such consultation, not only in the case of Indonesia but of all other South-East Asian countries.
3. His Majesty’s Government also propose that the other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Commonwealth countries which are not members of the N.A.T.O. and perhaps also the Governments of Switzerland and Sweden should in due course be advised of the dangers of excessive arms purchases by Indonesia and the Philippines, and asked to take appropriate steps to ensure that these two countries do not accumulate more arms than they require. Should the United States Government agree in principle that an approach on these lines should be made, His Majesty’s Government will be prepared to draft a paper to serve as a basis for such an approach and would propose to include in it suggestions for consultation between the arms supplying countries about arms orders from all the South-East Asian countries.
4. His Majesty’s Government would be glad to know if the United States Government agree to the proposals set forth in paragraphs two and three above.
5. A similar communication has been addressed to the French Government.