Office of the Historian

54. Telegram From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State0

Djakarta, April 8, 1958, 5 p.m.

3585. Foreign Minister asked me to call this morning to continue previous discussions we had had on US-Indonesian relations and internal developments Indonesia affecting those relations. Conversation covered a wide variety of topics highlights of which are as follows:

1.
Appeal for at least some gesture that might be taken as representing a more forthcoming attitude on US part. PL–4801 rice and token military aid were two specific examples mentioned. Anything would be better than nothing, Subandrio said, even so small a thing as granting licenses for spare parts for Mustangs and Convairs which they are now getting from Egypt.
2.
Government beginning to reach conclusion Communists could not be beaten by ordinary democratic means in elections. Program of gradual elimination of Communists by police and military to be followed by outlawing of Communist Party was not unlikely in comparatively near future, he said.
3.
Third meeting of Hatta and Sukarno would be held within a week and he anticipated agreement would be reached at such meeting.
4.
Presidential Cabinet rather than Parliamentary Cabinet would probably result from Sukarno–Hatta agreement, he said. He made point almost exactly corresponding to those made by Hatta in Embtel 33122 on this subject.
5.
Foreign Minister was recommending to Cabinet that West New Guinea issue be allowed cooling-off period and if his recommendation accepted matter would not be brought up at UN this year.
6.
Indonesians detected softening of Dutch attitude toward Indonesia, he said. There was no major item but number of small things added up to this conclusion. One example: Restraint with which Dutch had dealt with matter of KPM ships.
7.
Commenting on Indonesia’s relations with other countries, Foreign Minister said while this would take a great deal of education within Indonesia, he could foresee the time when Indonesia might wish to join with Australia, Philippines and maintain mutual defense pact or pacts. This would take years, he admitted, but felt that this was direction in which Indonesia ultimately must move.

Comment: This is most forthright statement we have received from Foreign Minister to indicate probability definite change in direction but bits and pieces we have been putting together tend to confirm that something of the sort is in offing. Prime Minister had asked me to see him at this [garble] tomorrow evening (April 9) at 5 p.m. for further discussion current situation in Indonesia and I shall withhold further comment until after this meeting. However, it begins to appear that US should be preparing itself to make some positive moves in event what appear to be favorable trends continue.3

Jones
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.56D/4–858. Secret; Priority.↩
  2. Reference is to PL. 480, the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, approved on July 10, 1954; for text, see 68 Stat. 454.↩
  3. Document 46↩

  4. In telegram 2905 to Djakarta, April 8, the Department informed the Embassy: “Trends reported your recent telegrams encouraging but before reaching any positive decision would be helpful have further clarification government’s plans and evidence of anti-Communist measures. We await with interest therefore report your conversation with Prime Minister tomorrow and your further comments on current situation.” (Department of State, Central Files, 756D.00/4–858) See Supplement.

    Jones reported on his conversation with Djuanda in telegram 3629 from Djakarta, April 10. “Subandrio balloon reported Embtel 3585 partly collapsed by Prime Minister Djuanda in frank and forthcoming talk yesterday evening,” he stated. “Djuanda made it clear that while government was broadly moving along lines US objectives no precipitate action could be anticipated.” After summarizing the Prime Minister’s comments, Jones offered the following observation: “There is no apparent explanation for discrepancy between Djuanda–Subandrio statements. Subandrio is regarded as being closer to throne and may be playing up to US on theory that is way wind is blowing. Or he may merely have been leading us on hoping to pry some assistance from us.” (Department of State, Central Files, 756D.00/4–1058) See Supplement.

    ↩