205. Memorandum of Conversation0
SUBJECT
- Current Political Developments in Indonesia
PARTICIPANTS
- Mr. Robertson, Assistant Secretary for Far Eastern Affairs
- Mr. Parsons, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Far Eastern Affairs
- Mr. Mein, Director, Office of Southwest Pacific Affairs
- Dr. Subandrio, Indonesian Foreign Minister1
- Ambassador Mukarto of Indonesia
The Minister said he welcomed the opportunity to see Mr. Robertson for a general exchange of information and to reassure himself that as a result of the Secretary’s resignation and death2 and of Mr. Robertson’s departure from the Department, there would be no change [Page 391] in our policy toward Indonesia. He said that he and his Government regretted Mr. Robertson’s departure but welcomed the appointment of Mr. Parsons.3 The Minister said further that upon the receipt of the news of the Secretary’s death, President Sukarno had said that although in many things he disagreed with the former Secretary, he would be greatly missed, especially since it was always known where the Secretary stood and he could be relied upon. Mr. Robertson assured the Minister there would be no change in our policy as a result of the changes.
Mr. Robertson said that we were glad that President Sukarno had come back to visit the United States and he hoped that the visit to Los Angeles had gone well. The Minister expressed his appreciation for the way the Los Angeles visit had been handled. He said that President Sukarno now has a grasp of the problems of Indonesia [the United States?] and of details which he previously did not have and that this is bound to have a more definite impact on the policy of the Government of Indonesia. The visit to the various countries had therefore been very useful for the President.
Mr. Robertson asked the Minister to comment, if he would, on the recent developments in Indonesia. The Minister said that when President Sukarno left Indonesia in late April on his present tour, the assumption had been that the Assembly would adopt the 1945 Constitution. The political parties had agreed to the return to the 1945 Constitution last February. The only exceptions expected then were the PSI and the Masjumi. The PKI also had some doubts as to the desirability of returning to the 1945 Constitution although for its own purposes it was giving the Constitution its support in the Assembly. At a Cabinet meeting on February 19, the NU had agreed to support the adoption of the Constitution and it was expected until the last moment that they would do so. The position taken by the NU in the Assembly therefore had come as a surprise to both Djuanda and Nasution. The change in the NU position was due primarily to the absence of Chalid from the country immediately prior to the voting. The Minister said that it is debatable whether a two-thirds majority is necessary in such a case or whether a simple majority can approve the return to the 1945 Constitution. The Assembly will now go into recess with the vote not being considered final and will await the return of President Sukarno. Instructions were sent to Djakarta to keep the situation calm and to limit political activities. In the meantime the present Government will stay in power. President Sukarno is confident that he can solve the problem even if a compromise is necessary on the Djakarta Charter.
[Page 392]The Minister said that President Sukarno is determined to return to the 1945 Constitution and to direct the Government himself. The President is more than ever convinced he wants to get definite results for the people and feels that the country has been experimenting too much already. The President and the Indonesians are proud that to date they have kept the country from disintegration. Mr. Robertson commented that the Indonesians do indeed have a great deal to be proud of and have achieved a great deal in the short period since their independence.
The trip to Latin America and to the United States has been inspiring and helpful. The Minister said he feels that as a result, President Sukarno should visit the United States each year in order to see the situation in this country as it really is. The President has an image of the United States which is different from the actual situation. Indonesia has developed to such a point, the Minister said, that no ideological or military dictatorship would be possible. Only a Sukarno dictatorship would be possible, but the President has repeatedly refused to assume such powers in the past.
Mr. Robertson again referred to the progress made in Indonesia. He commented that he can easily understand the impatience of Asians for improving their standard of living, adding that he is always impressed by what has been accomplished in Asia in just a few years.
Mr. Robertson said that we have been very pleased at our improving relations and that we are especially happy to have Ambassador Jones, who understands and likes Indonesians, in Djakarta. The Ambassador and the United States Government, he said, both wish to improve U.S.-Indonesian relations. The Minister said that President Sukarno is very fond of Ambassador Jones, not only as the representative of the United States but as a personal friend.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 756D.00/6–559. Official Use Only. Drafted by Mein.↩
- During his 2-day visit to Washington, Subandrio, who had been traveling with Sukarno on the President’s worldwide tour, also met with Acting Secretary of State Dillon. They discussed current political developments in Indonesia, the security of U.S. rubber estates in Sumatra, Indonesian purchase of KPM ships, and Export-Import Bank and DLF loans to Indonesia. Separate memoranda of these conversations, drafted by Mein, are ibid., 756.00/6–559, 856D.2395/6–559, 756D.5621/6–559, and 856D.10/6–559, respectively. See Supplement for all.↩
- Dulles died on May 24.↩
- Parsons was appointed to succeed Robertson as Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs on June 5. Robertson resigned on June 30 and Parsons became Assistant Secretary the following day.↩