282. Editorial Note
At the Secretary’s Staff Meeting on November 6, there was the following brief discussion relating to New Guinea:
“New Guinea—Mr. Robertson noted that the Australians and Dutch were going to issue a joint statement which he had shown to him and which he found unexceptionable. Allison, however, wants us to stop it. He also wants us to end our neutral position and favor Indonesia in the New Guinea difference. The Secretary said that he did not agree with Allison’s position on this matter and did not want to take any such step as this which would seem to be rewarding Sukarno while he was flirting with the Communists.
“(Note: Although this seemed to be a clear indication that the Secretary has adopted the neutral position, in subsequent discussion with Mr. Murphy he felt that the Secretary should take a specific action on the memorandum we have prepared for him, among other things in order to make sure that he is not considering moving over nearer the Dutch position.)” (Notes prepared by Fisher Howe; Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75)
The memorandum prepared for the Secretary, to which Howe referred, has not been identified, but see Gadel 81, Document 289.
The Netherlands-Australian joint statement, issued on November 6, declared that the two governments would “continue, and strengthen, the cooperation at present existing between their respective administrations” in Netherlands New Guinea and the Australian [Page 491] Trust Territory of New Guinea and Papua; a copy was given to the Department on November 5 by the Netherlands Minister. (Attachment to memorandum of conversation by Lancaster, November 5; Department of State, Central Files, 756C.022/11–557) Telegram 1156 from Djakarta, November 6, stated that Allison had just learned of the forthcoming statement, warned that “at this time and in present state of Indonesian emotional binge over West Irian such a statement could have the most serious effects,” and urged the Department to counsel the Netherlands and Australia to be cautious and patient. (Ibid., 656.56D13/11–657)