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

292. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations¹

Washington, November 19, 1957—8:52 p.m.

Gadel 86. Re West New Guinea. In informing Dutch Chargé November 16² that US position on West New Guinea remains one of “neutrality” Department repeated that as in past in response to inquiries US would make it known as appropriate that its neutrality is not to be taken as implying that it is expected other Dels will follow same policy.

Moreover if you receive indication position any delegations affected by Departmental press officer’s statement November 12 that “we hope the two parties can get together and work out their differences”,³ GADel authorized state to delegations involved if asked US position remains one of neutrality and statement not meant to imply any change from existing policy or endorsement of view that issues are such that UN should call for their negotiation where both parties do not agree to negotiations.⁴

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 656.56D13/11–1957. Secret; Priority. Drafted in UNP and approved by Walmsley; cleared with Secretary Dulles in draft and with Elbrick and Robertson. Repeated to The Hague.
2. The memorandum of conversation between Baron van Voorst and Elbrick by Lancaster, November 16, is not printed. (Ibid., 756C.022/11–1657)
3. The statement under reference was made at a press conference by Lincoln White, Chief of the News Division.
4. In the conversation cited in footnote 2 above, Elbrick told van Voorst that White’s statement had been made in response to an unexpected question and that “he was authorized to tell the Dutch that they should feel free to come to the US to specify delegations whose position had been affected as a result of the spokesman’s statement and that the US Delegation would speak to these other delegations to clarify our position.”