155. Editorial Note
On September 22 Prime Minister Djuanda announced that the Indonesian elections, scheduled for 1959, would be postponed for 1 year. At the Secretary’s staff meeting the following day this matter was briefly discussed:
“Mr. J.G. Parsons called attention to an announcement by the Indonesian Prime Minister that the 1959 elections would be postponed. In reply to the Secretary’s inquiry, Mr. Parsons said this development was a good one from our point of view.” (Notes of the Secretary’s staff meeting, September 23; Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75)
On September 25, at the 380th meeting of the National Security Council, Acting Director of Central Intelligence Charles Cabell mentioned the election postponement during his intelligence briefing:
“In Indonesia Prime Minister Djuanda informed Parliament last Monday that the national elections scheduled for 1959 would be postponed for one year. This move was the result of Army pressure designed to check the growth of Communist influence in Indonesia and must have had Sukarno’s advance approval. The Indonesian Communist reaction has so far been moderate although the Indonesian Communists will certainly go after Chief-of-Staff Nasution and his followers.” (Memorandum of discussion by Gleason, September 25; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)