Office of the Historian

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

Washington, November 30, 1957—7:04 p.m.

972. Following background of West New Guinea action in UN may be helpful. In view our concern over possible grave repercussions UNGA action on 19-power resolution whether adopted or defeated, UNGADel instructed Nov. 25 propose to SYG that he consider approach to Dutch and Indonesians to see if compromise resolution could be worked out. SYG after examining suggested text such resolution indicated he thought approach “waste of time”, said he thought Indonesians would turn down proposal but that it probably acceptable to Dutch. Following vote 19-power resolution first comite, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay began efforts find compromise solution. US-GADel November 27 requested authorization make further efforts before plenary find resolution acceptable both sides, recommend in light of first comite vote that Dutch be approached first.2 Subandrio Nov. 28 in conversation with Lodge on statement he intended make in plenary if motion failed gave impression he would welcome pretext avoid drastic line and stated he would work for postponement if any effort with Dutch looked promising.3 Following Department authorization, Wadsworth, Tyler, Cargo called on Dutch rep Schurmann. Schurmann said matter had been fully considered, that Dutch certain that compromise efforts unwise, emphasized that objections applied to any resolution however phrased. He said Netherlands had known for six months Sukarno planned expropriate Dutch property whatever result UNGA vote, that West New Guinea issue peripheral and would not affect Indonesian decision. Dutch knew that passage any resolution would be represented by PKI as Communist victory, and that failure might strengthen moderate Moslem elements. Schurmann reiterated New Guinea peripheral, stated major issue was Sukarno’s anti-West policy which Dutch felt becoming more pronounced, said Subandrio unable take more moderate position even if [Page 524] he wished to.4 19-power resolution failed obtain two-thirds in voting afternoon Nov. 29 (41–29–11).5

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 656.56D13/11–3057. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted in SPA, approved in FE, and cleared in EUR and IO. Repeated to Canberra and Djakarta.↩
  2. The request and the recommendation were made in Delga 482 from New York, November 27. (Ibid., 656.56D13/11–2757)↩
  3. Delga 487 from New York, November 28, for Wilcox from Lodge, described the conversation. Subandrio stated that if the resolution on New Guinea failed he was planning to announce “the beginning of the end of Indonesian-Netherlands relations.” Lodge noted, however, that Subandrio gave him the impression “that he would be glad to have some pretext for not taking drastic line which he otherwise will take and stated that he would work for postponement if any efforts with Dutch looked promising.” (Ibid., 656.56D13/11–1857)↩
  4. The conversation was reported in Delga 494, November 28. (Ibid., 656.56D13/11–2857)↩
  5. The United States abstained.↩