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

202. Telegram From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State¹

Djakarta, January 18, 1957—11 a.m.

1771. For Assistant Secretary Robertson. Last week I telegraphed Loy Henderson (my telegram 1709²) asking for your and his advice on my travel plans in the light of Department’s requirements and present Indonesian political crisis. A new factor has entered which I believe should be brought to your attention:

Last night President Sukarno expressed pleasure US sending as my successor Ambassador with distinguished record³ and cross examined me regarding Mrs. Allison’s temperament since he said most important she be able enter Indonesian life to extent Winifred had done. I naturally gave favorable reply. Sukarno then went on to say he was extremely sorry I was leaving so quickly as usually he had two or three months notice of change of Ambassadors. I said I was certain no offense was intended; that actually change had been under consideration for some time since I had now been Djakarta over three years; and that I understood there would be minimum possible gap between my departure and Allison arrival. Sukarno said that Indonesia would be in very critical position for next month or six weeks and he felt that during this period it would be important to US and Indonesia have Ambassador here whom he knew intimately as “brother”. He thought crisis (he did not specify details) would come about mid-February. He went on to say that Communists were already attacking me publicly and that my hasty departure would be regarded on many sides in Indonesia as marking important change in US policy. I repeated that change of Ambassadors was in this case routine [garble] that would not be reaction of Indonesian public. He emphasized there was certainly no objection on his part to Allison but simply a desire to have continuity US representation through this crisis. I said I would pass his comments on to you personally.

Pringgodigdo, Director Presidential Cabinet, expressed similar views to Embassy officer yesterday morning as did Foreign Office Secretary General Subandrio to me.

There is no question but that they now passing through perhaps the most critical period in Indonesian history since 1949 and therefore I feel that I should report foregoing to you since timing of my departure may be a not inconsequential element in local political picture and should therefore be decided in Washington.⁴

Cumming

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 123–Cumming, Hugh S., Jr. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution.
2. Dated January 11, not printed. (Ibid., 123–Allison, John Moore)
3. John M. Allison was appointed Ambassador to Indonesia February 21.
4. Telegram 1155 to Djakarta, January 18, instructed Cumming that, in view of the importance Sukarno attached to his presence in Indonesia at that time, he should delay his departure until March 1. (Department of State, Central Files, 123–Cumming, Hugh S., Jr.)