Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Southeast Asia, Volume XXII

135. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Netherlands¹

Washington, January 25, 1956—7:35 p.m.

1135. Dutch Ambassador was called in January 23² receive oral response his note January 10.³ Department stated Dutch had requested our intervention re prisoners while Indonesians had requested our intervention re New Guinea which also involved in Geneva negotiations. We regard matters in negotiations as problems be worked out between themselves and are hopeful they will continue their efforts to do so. In circumstances seems clear if we supported Dutch re prisoners we would be under heavy pressure from Indos to approach Dutch re New Guinea on which we intend maintain neutrality. Order avoid risk becoming involved as intermediary we therefore felt unable accede either Dutch or Indonesian request. Department stated belief no misunderstanding by Indonesians of US attitude re prisoners view our past informal approaches to Indo Government on humanitarian grounds.

Ambassador stated he considered questions to be entirely separate with New Guinea purely political issue and fate prisoners humanitarian problem. Two prisoners were now standing trial but remaining 14 had never even been brought before court. He made strong plea for our help on prisoners question and did not agree that confidential approaches to present Indonesian Government would embarrass or irritate it.

In response inquiry Ambassador stated Geneva discussions had gone very badly to date and weakness present Indonesian Government made continued negotiations academic. Indonesian Delegation would welcome Dutch concessions but unable make any concessions themselves since they obviously could not obtain approval by Indo Assembly. Although Indos declaring substantial progress made in negotiations before suspension and want Dutch agree formally to what so far negotiated, no satisfactory stage reached from Dutch viewpoint to permit conclusion agreement. Indos thus hope to be in position place onus on Dutch for refusing conclude agreement.

On departure Ambassador expressed hope Department would not maintain wholly negative attitude toward request for assistance behalf prisoners and was told we would explore matter further with Ambassador Cumming after Geneva talks concluded.

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 656.56D13/1–2556. Confidential. Repeated to Djakarta. Drafted in WE and approved by Murphy.
2. The conversation between Ambassador van Roijen and Murphy is recorded in a memorandum of conversation of January 23 by John Wesley Jones, not printed. (Ibid., 656.56D13/1–2356)
3. The Netherlands aide-mémoire of January 10 and a memorandum of conversation by Elbrick of a conversation between van Roijen and Under Secretary Hoover on that date are ibid., 656.56D13/1–1056.