751G.00/4–854
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Philippine and Southeast Asian Affairs (Bonsal)
Subject:
- United Action Concept for Southeast Asia
Participants:
- Mr. Moekarto Notowidigdo, Indonesian Ambassador
- The Secretary
- Mr. Bonsal
The Indonesian Ambassador came in at the Secretary’s request. The Secretary recalled an earlier informal conversation which he had had with the Ambassador at a social function regarding the danger to Southeast Asia implicit in the Indochina situation. He told the Ambassador that the French had recently approached us with a request for increased and more direct participation in that struggle. The Secretary recalled the very extensive assistance which we have been rendering, assistance which is based upon our conviction that Communist domination of Southeast Asia must be prevented. The Secretary referred to his address of March 29 in this connection.
He then said that the US is disposed to consider a more direct participation in the Indochina situation provided two conditions are fulfilled. These are first, that there is formed a grouping of states interested in the preservation of Indochina from Communist domination and willing to present a united political and if necessary military front in this matter. Second, there must be definitive assurance of complete independence for the Associated States of Indochina including freedom for them to withdraw or not from the French Union in the exercise of their own complete sovereignty. The Secretary made it clear that he thought that the French Union offers a suitable framework for the advancing of the mutual interests of France and of the Associated States but that the association must be one of free and equal partners.
The Secretary stated that this general concept had already been discussed with the representatives of France, the UK, Thailand, Philippines, the Associated States, Australia and New Zealand and that he would be glad to have the reaction of the Indonesian Government.
The Ambassador replied that he would of course refer the matter to his government which would much appreciate being informed as to the thinking of the US Government in so important a matter. He gave it as his personal view that the Indonesian Government [Page 406] would find itself unable to take any position in this matter prior to the holding of national elections in Indonesia in February 1955. He stated that the Government was really too weak to express itself in a positive fashion. He expressed his own personal awareness of the importance of saving Indochina from Communist domination. He added that he was extremely pleased with what the Secretary had said regarding the independence of the Associated States. He said that if this question could be satisfactorily cleared up, there would be a much more complete understanding of what is at stake in Indochina and the rest of Southeast Asia.1
Dulles had a similar conversation concerning collective action in Southeast Asia, also on Apr. 8, with James Barrington, Ambassador of Burma. Bonsal’s memorandum of that talk concludes as follows:
“Ambassador Barrington expressed appreciation for the information given him and said that he would at once convey it to his government. He did not anticipate that there would be any positive reaction from Rangoon. He expressed particular satisfaction at the Secretary’s position regarding the independence of the Associated States and said that he felt that the definitive establishment of that independence would have an excellent effect on Asiatic public and official opinion toward the Indochina situation. He expressed some criticism of French Union military tactics in Indochina.” (Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation, lot 64 D 199. Chronological collections of the Secretary of State’s memoranda of conversation and the Under Secretary of State’s memoranda of conversation for the years 1953–1960, as maintained by the Executive Secretariat of the Department of State.)
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