Office of the Historian

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

Djakarta, December 30, 1957—4 p.m.

1857. Usually reliable source who claims to have discussed Indonesia’s international position with Minister of Justice Maengkom recently told Embassy officer that entire cabinet, including all non-Communist Ministers, agree on seeking Soviet assistance in struggle against Dutch. Source stated that according to Maengkom, opinion [Page 575] prevails in cabinet circles that Dutch incapable assuming present firm stand on Irian unless assured of full NATO support. In view of this “prima facie” evidence of western opposition to Indonesia’s national claim, government has no choice but to turn to Soviet Union.

Comment: While statements attributed to Maengkom more direct than any position yet assumed publicly by Indonesian officer, it corresponds with tone of recent speeches of Djuanda and Subandrio to effect that Indonesia feels opposed by western world, isolated from people of west and that only result can be closer relations between Indonesia and Communist bloc (Embtels 1749,2 17503). Reported attitude of ministers as received from this source appears to be justification for purchase of Soviet arms, and statements of Mukarto from Washington (December 27) as well as comments of Subandrio (Embtel 18434) and Djuanda (Embtel 18475) on December 28 regarding history of Indonesia’s efforts obtain arms from US have all earmarks of government’s final step in justifying pending arms acquisitions from Soviet Union (OARMA CX 1386).

Allison
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 656.56D13/12–3057. Secret.↩
  2. See footnote 3, Document 334.↩
  3. Telegram 1750 from Djakarta, December 23, reported that in a nationwide broadcast on December 21, Djuanda defended the government’s policy toward the Netherlands and called on the Indonesian people to give the government the time and opportunity to solve the country’s problems. (Department of State, Central Files, 656.56D13/12–2357)↩
  4. Telegram 1843 from Djakarta, December 30, reported that Subandrio told the press on December 28 that the question of obtaining arms from the United States had been under discussion for some time and that if the United States continued to fail to give consideration to the Indonesian requests, the government would seek arms elsewhere. (Ibid., 756D.56/12–3057)↩
  5. Telegram 1847 from Djakarta, December 30, reported a press interview with Djuanda on December 28 in which the Prime Minister referred to Subandrio’s comments on the question of purchasing arms from the United States. (Ibid., 656.56D13/12–3057)↩
  6. See footnote 2, Document 333.↩