Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VI

501.BC Indonesia/12–1348: Telegram

The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State

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Batavia, December 13, 1948—11 p. m.
[Received December 13—3:19 p. m.]

1090. Gocus 484. Reference paragraph Gocus 483.¹ With Supomo and Darmasetiawan visited Sukarno in Jogja 10 a. m. today. Conferred and lunched Kaliurang with Hatta and dozen advisors. After reading GOC report of December 12 to SC and particularly Netherlands letter December 11 to GOC, Hatta wrote following letter dated Kaliurang December 13 addressed Cochran, US representative GOC, and signed Hatta, Vice President and Prime Minister Republic of Indonesia: [Here follows text printed in SC, 3rd yr., Suppl. (Dec.), page 215.]

Preparation and revision letter participated in by Sukarno, Hatta and advisors. I feel it merits careful and sympathetic consideration in connection with GOC special report and particularly paragraph 8 (a) of Netherlands aide-mémoire. Sincerely hope Netherlands Government may take cognizance this reasonable approach and agree prompt negotiations and postponement setting up interim government. Neither threats of immediate interim government without Republic and of police action against Republic nor diplomatic pressure from foreign power can in my opinion move Republic position prior bona fide negotiations. I delivered copy above letter to Schuurman 6:30 p. m. today under following cover:

“I have pleasure in enclosing for urgent attention true copy of letter dated Kaliurang, December 13, 1948, which Dr. Hatta, Vice President and Prime Minister of Republic of Indonesia, handed to me today.”

I told Schuurman he must realize how sincerely interested I have been in working toward peaceful settlement Indonesian question. From messages received over weekend from Washington and Hague I thought there was still one opening which his government hoped would be explored. This was to see if Republic would make further approach to Netherlands Government with view to bridge gap. My government had authorized me do what I thought feasible. I said I had consequently seen Republic officials with above result. Schuurman said this was important to Beel. I said he was entirely at liberty to pass it on to his government immediately in order it would be informed of developments and see approach with Republic was made. Signed Cochran.²

Repeated The Hague.

Livengood

1. Telegram 1086, December 12, not printed.
2. Telegram 4778, December 14, 5 p. m., to Paris (for Jessup), suggested bringing the Hatta letter of December 13 to the attention of the Indonesian representative at the United Nations (Palar). Telegram 1090 was repeated in telegram 4783, December 14, 6 p. m., to Paris, with the suggestion that the Hatta letter be brought to the attention of the Netherlands representative (Van Boetzelaer). Telegram 626, December 14, 6 p. m., to The Hague, directed sending the Hatta letter to Brussels. (501.BC Indonesia/12–1348)