6. Telegram From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State0
1962. Department pass CINCPAC for POLAD for information. At close of general conversation this morning on internal situation Djuanda said he would like to speak to me not as Prime Minister to Ambassador but as friend-to-friend. He then told me that Russians had been recently putting extreme pressure on Indonesians to accept ships and military equipment for use in present emergency. Djuanda says that for this purpose Soviet Ambassador Zhoukov apparently returned to Djakarta earlier than had been anticipated. (In this connection press reports that Zhoukov had “courtesy” interview with Djuanda yesterday morning.) Djuanda said that Russians were offering equipment on understanding that conditions of payment could be settled later after arrival of equipment.
Prime Minister expressed gratitude that arrangement for ships from Japan had been completed prior to Russian offer so that there was no compulsion on that part of Russian proposal. With respect to rest of proposal, Djuanda said he was hopeful it would be possible to stall until return of Sukarno when there might be different situation. He said that it was his intent only to go ahead with already negotiated Soviet loan which he anticipates will come before next Parliamentary session. This loan provides only for some factories, some communication and transportation equipment and for no military equipment other than jeeps. Previously Djuanda had told me that one of reasons he had been anxious for Sukarno to visit Cairo was so that he could have good talk with Nasser and learn from him some of problems connected with receiving Soviet equipment. Djuanda believes, apparently on basis of reports from Indonesian Embassy Cairo, that Nasser has become somewhat disillusioned with Russians and that his experience will give Sukarno food for thought. At no time did Djuanda mention question of whether or not America would provide Indonesia with military equipment, and I believe he is honestly concerned at prospect he may be forced into position of taking some such equipment from Soviets. He did say that Indonesian Government was getting in recent weeks increasing evidence that both arms and equipment were being airdropped in various parts of Eastern Indonesia and that small Dutch Naval vessels had been calling at isolated points in Eastern Indonesia and were apparently giving aid and comfort to local insurgents.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 756D.56/1–758. Secret.↩