Office of the Historian

357.AA/3–2651: Telegram

The Ambassador in Indonesia (Cochran) to the Secretary of State

confidential
priority
Djakarta, March 26, 1951—3 p. m.

1309. Gocus 960. Wld like Dept’s earliest telegraphic approval fol proposed line of action which I believe wld best serve carry out Dept’s, wishes as contained Usgoc 497.1

1.
As week’s chairman wld call UNCI mtg and explain that with solution in principle KL and ex-KNIL problems and with agreed withdrawal mil obs, UNCI had completed its business for the foreseeable future. Wld propose commission agree on adjournment sine die.
2.
If above agreed by UNCI wld propose commission forward its report to SC. As explained in Gocus 957 our draft simply objective historical survey from date sovereignty transfer to present. In matter of incidents which have occurred during past year, report attributes neither blame nor responsibility to either party and we have been assiduous in eliminating any question which might provoke controversy. [Page 627] Conclusion cld now be added to report referring settlement principle military problems, fact nothing on future agenda, and that commission accordingly had decided adjourn sine die.
3.
As regards secretariat I see absolutely no need anyone remain here, although Romanos believes that as long as UNCI is kept in even theoretical existence in Indo secretariat representative shld be present. I proposed to him, and Dept if it sees fit might press same idea with UN secretariat New York, that person from future UN technical assistance mission secretariat cld be designated handle UNCI affairs as needed. Alternatively somebody from Romano’s present office might be assigned to technical assistance secretariat and be given duties there keep him employed. Signed Beam.2

Department pass The Hague, Canberra; sent Department 1309, rptd info The Hague 127, Canberra 19.

Cochran
  1. In telegram 1022(Usgoc 497) to Djakarta, March 23, the Embassy was informed again that the UNCI should be dissolved at the earliest possible time and that the Department of State agreed that Mr. Beam should approach the Australians informally along the lines suggested in Gocus 957 (p. 617) to achieve this policy objective. The Ambassador and Mr. Beam were also informed that the Department of State approved of the UNCI decision to request the withdrawal of all military observers. (357.00/3–2351)↩
  2. In telegram 1040 (Usgoc 498) to Djakarta, March 27, the Department of State approved the line of action proposed by Mr. Beam in paragraphs one and two of Gocus 960, but cautioned him that separate instructions regarding paragraph three would follow (357.AA/3–2651).↩