656.56D13/8–554: Telegram
No. 289
The Ambassador in Indonesia (Cumming) to the Department of State
225. Department telegram 161.1 I regard Sukarno’s statement to me a part of his continuing and persistent efforts to leave no stone unturned in seeking US support for Indonesian Irian claim. Statements of Indonesian officials both here and in Washington suggest strongly that general policy instructions have gone out to talk up Indonesian claim and make bid for US support or at least benevolent neutrality. I am certain that anything short of outright espousal Indonesian position would not have any effect at this time on Sukarno and Indonesian attitude either towards SEATO or US, and I have strong doubts that even such espousal if it were made, would to any significant degree at this time further any specific US policy objectives this area although it would produce some warming of Indonesian Government and public opinion towards US.
Department through USUN may now be in better position to estimate likelihood Indonesian effort to place Irian on UNGA agenda. From Djakarta vantage point, however, it does not appear that government has decided yet on the matter. I suspect that Foreign Office, which would be responsible for carrying out affirmative decision, is dragging its feet and counseling against it. Hanifah, the person most likely to prepare a broad groundwork for UNGA effort, is still in Djakarta. Hague negotiations, monopolizing considerable portion Indonesian diplomatic manpower and attention, unlikely to be terminated before end second week in August, and mid-August agenda closing date is fast approaching. At present only PKI and affiliates are calling for UNGA action, and even [garble] of Irian Bureau, Sukarno’s direct mouthpiece on Irian questions, is talking vaguely only of working out Dutch-Indonesian differences on Irian within framework “UN Regulations”. Placing Irian before World Court may be in back of their minds. Above leads me to believe, therefore, that although final decision has not been reached, scales now weighed against Indonesian effort put Irian problem before Ninth Session UNGA.
[Page 460]I feel that no response is necessary or expected. I think that he asked me to pass substance of his conversation to President Eisenhower primarily to give weight to what he said.