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

143. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Department of State¹

Bangkok, March 13, 1956—6 p.m.

Dulte 27. Eyes only Acting Secretary from Secretary for President.²

Dear Mr. President:

I had a useful 24 hours in Djakarta.³ I gave President Sukarno your informal invitation to come to the US. He was much gratified. However, there is some doubt that he will find it feasible to do so this spring because of the present problem of forming a new government and then the problem of a constituent Constitutional Assembly.

I found on the whole a very good reception with a smattering of Communist antagonism. I tried particularly to emphasize the fact that they as a new nation freed from colonialism face the same problems that we faced nearly 200 years ago and therefore we can sympathize with them and help them. We have no desire to push them into international involvements which would prevent their concentrating upon the internal development which is essential for their national persistence.

The big issue is whether or not the new government will be formed through alliance with the Muslim parties or whether the national party will try to form a government with the Communist party support.

There is no doubt but what Ali who has been asked to try to form the government will try to form it in combination with the Muslim parties. There is some uncertainty because their price may be high or [for?] they are asking for three Ministries—that of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Education. Hard bargaining is now in process.

While some try to make it appear that my visit was designed as an intervention in their internal affairs and that our recently concluded agricultural assistance program⁴ was a bribe, I believe that on balance both of these events will give more chance of the new government not being organized on basis of Communist participation.

The public demonstrations were overwhelmingly favorable, and a very minor incident of throwing a Communist propaganda sheet into my car is totally unrepresentative.

I have come away with some fresh ideas as to how we can more effectively present our common interests to the Indonesian people, and in this respect also I believe the trip was worthwhile.

Faithfully yours,

Foster Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.11–DU/3–1356. Secret.
2. A copy of this telegram, initialed by Eisenhower, is in Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Dulles–Herter Series.
3. Further documentation concerning Dulles’ visit to Djakarta, March 12–13, is in Department of State, Central File 110.11–DU and ibid., Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 675–682.
4. An agreement providing for the sale of $96.7 million worth of surplus agricultural commodities to Indonesia over a 2-year period was signed at Djakarta on March 2; for text of the agreement and accompanying exchanges of notes signed at Djakarta on March 2 and 5, see 7 UST 361.