501.BC IndonesIa/12–1748: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia 1
us urgent
niact
665. Usgoc 248. Neth Counselor has just telephoned Dept stating Neth Emb has recd tel from Hague indicating that explanatory instructions re Neth reply to Hatta letter are going forward to Nethdel Batavia for conveyance to you. He indicated he was in position confirm that Neth reply is (as taken in shorthand) “asking for nothing new—only for confirmation that Repub Cabinet as such is accepting what has already been promised by Hatta privately; that points a, b and c are nothing new as far as basic principles decree are concerned, Hague believes Hatta will understand what it means as result of all discussions with him; and that all this may not seem clear to others but certainly will be clear to Hatta; that only thing Dutch ask is that promises given in his letter will be confirmed by him by simple yes as binding Repub as such.” Neth Counselor indicated he expected [Page 570] Steere would be in position following conversation with Lovink to confirm this.
Dept awaits Steere’s report for clarification and confirmation and therefore made no comment beyond expressing appreciation for info.
- Repeated as 638 to The Hague.↩