Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Indonesia, Volume XVII

157. Memorandum of Conference With President Eisenhower⁰

Washington, October 2, 1958, noon.

OTHERS PRESENT

• Netherlands Foreign Minister Luns
• Ambassador Young
• General Goodpaster

The President recalled that he had last met Foreign Minister Luns in Paris at the NATO meeting and had enjoyed the opportunity to talk with him.¹ Although the meeting was intended to be quite informal and non-substantive, the discussion immediately turned to Dutch New Guinea when the President asked Mr. Luns for his views. Mr. Luns stressed the difficulty that the government in the Netherlands is experiencing in terms of public opinion because of their effort to maintain a moderate attitude toward the United States on this matter. He said he and the government fully understood the United States position—of avoiding actions which would drive the Indonesians into the arms of the Soviets. Certain types of arms the United States is supplying the Indonesians, however, cause a great deal of concern. Ambassador Young confirmed that Mr. Luns and the government had been extremely understanding in this matter. Mr. Luns said that the Indonesians of course have no claim on Dutch New Guinea, since the natives are non-Indonesian, and strongly desire to stay free of the Indonesians. The land is very lightly settled, however, and the possibility exists of the Indonesians making small landings at various places. He felt that a “deterrent” in the form of a joint Dutch-Australian statement would be very important and hoped that the United States would support that.

The President commented with regard to the limited amounts of arms being furnished the Indonesians, that many of these require ammunition and spare parts in order to be effectively utilized, and that this gives us a degree of control over their misuse; also, any recipient must undertake not to use the arms for aggressive purposes.

The President recalled that we have recently been stressing very strongly in the Far East the principle of “no territorial expansion by force of arms.” He asked whether this would not have application in Indonesia.

The President and Mr. Luns next discussed Dutch New Guinea in more detail, as to population, area, economic development, etc. The President asked what value Dutch New Guinea had to the Dutch. Mr. Luns said that it does not have much real value, but that the Dutch feel they have an obligation to administer and protect it. He added that other UN members should honor this feeling.

The President said he would talk in more detail to the Secretary of State regarding this matter.²

The President concluded by asking Mr. Luns to remember him to his many friends in Holland, mentioning particularly Prime Minister Staf, Prince Bernhard and Queen Juliana.

AJG
Brigadier General, USA

0. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster on October 7. A note on the source text indicates the conversation was “off the record.”
1. Reference is most likely to the NATO Heads of Government meeting, held in Paris December 16–19, 1957. No record has been found of a conversation between Eisenhower and Luns.
2. Luns and Dulles had already discussed the issue in Washington on September 30. (Memorandum of conversation, September 30; Department of State, Central Files, 611.56D/9–3058) See Supplement.