756D.5 MSP/1–2353: Telegram
No. 242
The Ambassador in Indonesia (Cochran) to the Department of State
priority
1355. While in Department on consultation November and December I worked with Indo desk on replace[ment] aid agreement [Page 353] for Indo and concurred therein on one important condition, namely that Indo Government be informed, in advance any decision on its part replace 511 (a) agreement with 511 (b), of exact nature and wording of requirements with which under US legislation Indo would be obliged to comply before being permitted reimbursable military aid.
As Deptels 811 and 8121 to Djakarta confirm, a typical note for reimbursable aid was drawn up in Department for submission to Indos. This typical note was cleared as applicable to Burma since I wanted avoid any situation wherein Burma might be permitted obtain reimbursable military aid on terms less stringent than those stipulated for Indo.
Deptel 811, November 26 to Djakarta stated that “in response Mukarto inquiry Department plans furnish Indo Ambassador unsigned draft typical US note set forth Deptel 812 to be regarded as example adequate basis for reimbursable aid agreement.” Message concluded with sentence “Department plans supply Indo Embassy above unsigned draft within few days unless Embassy Rangoon reports serious objection.” After receipt by Department of Rangoon’s approval I was informed by Department’s Indo desk officer that effort would be made to get document in Mukarto’s hands before he left US. If this was not possible, Department would transmit document through Indo Embassy Washington. With this understanding and on assumption that such action had been carried out, I proceeded with exchange of notes in Djakarta on January 12 which consummated replace[ment] agreement.
Deptel 11162 informs me that document in question has not yet been made available to Mukarto or other Indo official by Department. I deny positively that Department ever gave me any reason in December or any other time to believe that action on delivery document would be deferred “in order not risk disturbing the imminent new MSA Agreement.” It had been my firm conviction that it would be both unwise and dishonest to permit Indos replace 511 (a) agreement with one which would not permit procurement arms on grant basis unless Indos were fully and specifically informed in advance as to conditions with which they would have to comply to procure military equipment on reimbursable basis after original agreement had been replaced. It was for specific purpose of achieving above-mentioned result with Department that I spent much of my time in Washington. I feel that agreement with Indo has now been obtained in circumstances unfair both to Indo and to myself. I [Page 354] have no intention of presenting Department’s “typical note” to Mukarto at this late date and in these circumstances.
- See footnote 4, Document 235.↩
- Dated Jan. 22, not printed.↩