214. Telegram From Secretary of State Herter to the Department of State0

Secto 319. Selwyn Lloyd raised with me today question of West New Guinea and state of our understanding with the Dutch in event Indonesians attacked.1 He said that he and Secretary Dulles had agreed on giving warning in identical terms to Indonesians against attack and also mentioned that Mr. Dulles had said in such event US would give Dutch logistical support, it being impossible to go beyond this in absence Congressional approval. We discussed the matter briefly and noted that each of us was under continuing pressure from the Dutch to move in direction of joint military planning with them (and presumably Australians as well) which I indicated we were not enthusiastic over. Matter was left that I would report this conversation to the Department which I thought would be in better position having full earlier records available than I to continue dialogue with Caccia.2

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 656.56D13/7–1559. Secret; Limit Distribution. Repeated to London, The Hague, and Djakarta.
  2. Secto 330 from Geneva, July 16, reads: “Request summary discussions with Dutch re U.S. position in event Indonesian attack on West Guinea.” (Ibid., 656C.56D/7–1659) In Tosec 336 to Geneva, July 18, the Department provided the summary and explained that U.S. conversations with the Netherlands regarding the U.S. position in event of an Indonesian attack on West New Guinea had focused on political deterrents and secret military planning. (Ibid.) See Supplement.
  3. In telegram 111 from Djakarta, July 18, Jones commented that he “fully expressed our attitude toward any possible Indonesian attack on West New Guinea.” Subandrio repeatedly assured Jones that Indonesia would not attack and that it was well aware of the attitude of the United States, the United Kingdom, and others to such a move. Given these assurances and the unlikelihood of an imminent attack, Jones stated such a warning “would not only serve no useful purpose but would have a pernicious effect on US-Indonesian relations.” (Department of State, Central Files, 656.5613/7–1859) See Supplement.