149. Telegram 1151 From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State, January 27, 1976, 0851Z.1 2
January
27, 1976, 0851Z
TELEGRAM
Department of State
JAKARTA 1151
R 270851Z JAN 76 ZFF4
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2382
JAKARTA 1151
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PFOR, PINS, ID, PO, PT, AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN QUERY RE U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE
REF: JAKARTA
0886
- 1.
- IN MEETING WITH ME JANUARY 26 AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR WOOLCOTT REITERATED CONCERN OF FOREIGN MINISTER PEACOCK OVER ANY POSSIBLE “SUSPENSION” OF U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO INDONESIA AS RESULT OF TIMOR ACTION.
- 2.
- I TOLD AMBASSADOR WOOLCOTT THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO SUSPENSION OF AID AND THAT SECRETARY, WHO ATTACHES MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE TO OUR RELATIONS WITH INDONESIA, WAS FIRM IN DESIRE TO AVOID ANY SUCH ACTION. TIMOR ACTION DID RAISE SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS BUT IT WAS OUR HOPE THESE COULD BE RESOLVED IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER. IN THIS CONTEXT STEADY PROGRESS TOWARD AN ACT OF SELF-DETERMINATION UNDER UN AUSPICES IS IMPORTANT. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO MAJOR MILITARY ASSISTANCE ACTIONS REQUIRING WASHINGTON DECISIONS SO QUESTION IS NOT IMMEDIATE.
- 3.
- WOOLCOTT SAID HE WAS SURE PEACOCK WOULD BE PLEASED TO LEARN OF SECRETARY’S POSITION SINCE ANY SUSPENSION OF U.S. AID WOULD PLACE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IN AWKWARD POSITION WITH RESPECT ITS OWN PROGRAM IN INDONESIA.
- 4.
- DEPT. MAY WISH PASS CANBERRA.
NEWSOM