790.5/7–2854: Telegram
The Ambassador in Indonesia (Cumming) to the Department of State1
182. Noforn. During conversation with President Sukarno this morning I asked him what his attitude was towards a proposed SEATO. He replied that he thought it best for Indonesia to remain outside. After a slight pause he added “certainly at this time”. Later in the conversation I reverted to the subject and asked him what Indonesian attitude would be towards a SEATO when it came into being; whether he would oppose it or adopt a benevolent attitude. He replied that he personally thought it would be a good thing for those countries that cared to join; that so far as he could see his attitude would be “neither plus nor minus”. He acquiesced to my suggestion that that meant in effect he would have a benevolent attitude, adding that a lot would depend on the actions taken by SEATO. He said that while it was none of his business, he thought it would be a mistake for us to invite Indonesia to join as such an approach might be taken by some Indonesians as a form of pressure to draw Indonesia away from its independent policy into our defensive system.
The President then said that in a few minutes he expected the British Ambassador, who is going on leave in a few days, to call on him and that he anticipated Morland would ask him the same question I had re SEATO. He said his reply would be the same as the one given me and cryptically added, “I do not know whether he will like my answer”.
- Repeated to Bangkok, London, New Delhi, and Rangoon.↩