Office of the Historian

493.56D9/7–254: Telegram

No. 274
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Indonesia

secret
priority
Washington, July 2, 1954—7:29 p.m.

13. Excon. Basis information your 6 and 9;1 Singapore’s unnumbered July 1;2 Djakarta broadcast carried FBIS July 1. Department and FOA believe essential advise Indonesians advance actual shipment if possible that violation UN embargo and Battle Act seemingly involved (see Department’s 1069 January 1953).3 Indonesians must be made realize they cannot maintain UN respectability by adopting obvious subterfuge of marking rubber for New York and Boston, when in fact sold to and being shipped to Communist China, probably within context trade agreement.

Accordingly in view need urgent action Ambassador, unless he perceives objection, should make immediate call Acting Foreign Minister Ali basing information press reports and make clear:

1.
Rubber going to Communist China would violate UN embargo.
2.
U.S. would regard such violation serious blow UN prestige and foundations collective action under UN.
3.
U.S. domestic legislation (Battle Act) states that it shall be “administered in such a way as to bring about the fullest support” for the May 18, 1951 resolution of the UN General Assembly. If U.S. were to receive evidence rubber shipment to Communist China knowingly permitted by Indonesian Government, U.S. would be obliged to consider case as falling under Section 203 dealing with termination of aid.
4.
Violation of UN embargo would inevitably do great harm US–Indonesian relations and U.S. attempts assist Indonesia strengthen her economy.
5.
Accordingly U.S. hopes Indonesian Government will prevent or divert shipment to avoid violation UN embargo.

Unless you advise immediately to contrary Department proposes call in Ambassador Mukarto and make parallel representations. Advise.

Dulles
  1. Neither printed. Telegram 9, July 2, informed the Department of State that the first 200 tons of a reported 6,000 tons of low quality rubber had been loaded aboard the Polish vessel Pulaski for shipment to the People’s Republic of China. (493.56D9/7–254)↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. Dated Jan. 14, 1953, not printed. (456D.9331/1–1253)↩