Office of the Historian

756D.00/1–2251: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Indonesia

secret
Washington, January 22, 1951—5 p. m.

750. Fol is summary personal msg Menzies delivered Secy by Austral Amb Jan 18:

[Here follows the text of the summary of Menzies’ brief note expressing Australia’s deep concern over the possibility of transfer of sovereignty over Netherlands New Guinea to Indonesia particularly in view of Australia’s strategic concern in the area. It posed the possibility in the long run of a joint Netherlands-Australian trusteeship for the area and concluded with a request that the United States do anything possible to delay a decision which would result in Netherlands departure from New Guinea.]

In accepting msg, Secy informed Makin Dept wld study msg and wld reply Menzies.

Sent to AmEmbassy Djakarta 750, rptd for info AmEmbassy Canberra 195, AmEmbassy The Hague 850, USUN 646.

Acheson