756D.11/6–1554: Telegram
No. 272
The Ambassador in Indonesia (Cumming) to the Department of State
1495. Limit distribution. During my conversation with President Sukarno yesterday morning I mentioned subject of his visiting the US. I told him that I could make no commitments and assumed that he could not either but that I was certain my government would approve of my following up my conversation with Pringgodigdo (mytel 1265)1 and talking about the subject in a general way. I said that the subject would require very careful personal planning between us so that if at the last minute the visit should prove to be unwise from either the American or Indo standpoint, the trip could be dropped or deferred without embarrassment to either side. He said he was aware of my conversation with Pringgo and that he was sincerely grateful for the interest I had displayed in his visiting the US; that even though he might not approve of all US policies, he had the deepest admiration for America and for its leadership of and inspiration to all those who believed in real freedom. He said he wished to visit the US more than any other country in the world but that he could not make definite plans at this time because of two major considerations, first, the Indo elections which were of vital importance to the future of country and of immediate concern “to my own future” and, secondly, the Afro-Asian conference, planning for which was engaging his attention. (I tried to draw him out on the latter point but he confined himself to saying that such a conference was in his opinion extremely important to building up understanding between “the peoples concerned”.) He said that these considerations made a visit perhaps impossible until some time in early 1955 but in meantime he suggested we keep the subject open between the two of us, with either free to raise the question at any time.
Foregoing relates to Deptel 974.2