856d.01/12–748: Telegram
The Chargé in the Netherlands (Steere) to the Secretary of State 1
us urgent
[Received December 7—3:47 p. m.]
827. Aide-mémoire contained Deptel 609, December 6,2 handed Lovink and Boon Foreign Office 3 p. m. with advice that identical text being presented Van Kleffens.
I told Lovink substance aide-mémoire was that Department, after being most favorably impressed by recent action Netherlands Government designating Cabinet ministers to undertake solution Indonesian problem on ground, had been surprised and apparently somewhat shocked at abrupt termination of negotiations and return of ministers to Netherlands at time when it appeared of utmost urgency for negotiations be pressed to successful conclusion. Department accordingly desired bring once more to earnest attention Netherlands Government its views re impelling reasons for pursuing course of negotiated agreement either within or without GOC and for not jeopardizing negotiations by refraining from creation federal government based on non-Republican territories.
I added (stating it was entirely my personal view and without authority) if negotiations had to break down because of Republican unreasonableness or intransigence, it was surely in Netherlands interest responsibility for breakdown be clearly established before GOC rather than by unilateral termination followed by mutual recriminations.
Dutch reaction after reading aide-mémoire was one of pained and angry surprise. Lovink, controlling himself with some difficulty, said this was very plain speaking and he understood fully what it meant; saying could not comment further upon it, he nonetheless added number other remarks including statement he thought it would not be at all well received by ministers concerned and would not facilitate decisions which would have to be made following return today of ministerial delegation; fully confirmed impressions gained by Stikker from his conversations in Washington; also seemed to him that American Government showed very little appreciation of lengths to which Netherlands Government had gone in sending delegation senior ministers to Indonesia and the efforts which they had made reach agreement. He went on to say delegation had not been ordered home by Hague but [Page 531] came on own initiative and he thought there was no basis for assuming negotiations had been definitely terminated.
Boon inquired whether similar aide-mémoire sent to Republic and whether contents also known to Stikker to which I replied Embassy without information. Ref also made his assurance (Embtel 820, December 33) that Dutch Government would not take precipitate action.