856D.2553/12–2651: Telegram
The Ambassador in Indonesia (Cochran) to the Secretary of State
priority
907. Subardjo, Roem, Hanifah1 and Senator Brewster2 among supper guests along with Stanvac and Caltex reps my home 21st. [Page 767] Thereafter Stanvac memo proposal was handed Roem by Gibbon. Noon 22nd Gibbon came to report on morning session of himself and associates with Roem’s Comm. Gibbon said Comm for first time “acted as if somebody had been talking to them”.
Had Xmas dinner with Stanvac. They are to submit supplemental letter to Roem’s Comm morning 27th. Later in day Comm in person presents its report to finance and econ comite of Cabinet. Prefer leave detailed reporting Stanvac negots to their own messages to head office (shld state, however, Stanvac feels progress made and satis interim arrangement may be achieved in atmosphere conducive to mutual understanding on long term issues).
Ref Deptel 664.3 Gibbon keeping BPM and Caltex informed of negots and will let them know results. Brit Emb in touch with American Embassy. We all agree we shld avoid any semblance triangular diplomatic approach to Indo Govt. BPM looked upon here as Neth rather than Brit. Indo feeling against Neth increasingly aggravated by arms shipments to NNG and by Neth retarding tactics The Hague negots. Serious trouble for Neth may result unless Indos achieve satisfaction.
- Abu Hanifah, one of the Masjumi leaders.↩
- Senator Owen Brewster of Maine.↩
- In telegram 664 to Djakarta, December 22, the Department informed Ambassador Cochran that the British were concerned about the Stanvac negotiations and had requested that the Ambassador keep his British colleague in Djakarta apprised of the situation. Ambassador Cochran was asked to provide this data to the British Embassy in Indonesia. (856D.2553/12–2251)↩