856d.00/1–2249: Telegram
The Ambassador in Belgium (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
115. In view urgency sense Department’s telegram 58, January 19, its contents at once conveyed Loridan1 who said he would pass it on to Spaak. He expressed personal opinion that latter would not be in agreement with American proposed resolution.
Today Spaak informed Embassy that at same time we requested him use his influence with Netherlands, Dutch Ambassador had made similar request for him use his influence with US. He said he would do his best carry out both requests. He could not, however, bring himself support our draft resolution and he thought proposed United Nations commission supervision in Indonesia would prove to have too complicated task and if constituted was in all probability doomed to be unsuccessful.
He had recommended to Dutch that they at once have some country possibly France propose resolution sense which would be to (a) give Dutch 15 days in which understanding may be reached, (b) require Dutch form federal government in month February, (c) call for elections during this year, (d) require transfer sovereignty to federal government in 1950. He thought it might even be possible set date, say July 1, 1950.
Spaak thought Dutch plan stand aside and let Sharir2 on behalf Republicans negotiate with representatives other members proposed federation was big step forward. If these negotiations were successfully concluded in 15 days and if Dutch would then give United Nations above assurances, he inquired whether this would not actually accomplish what we were all endeavouring achieve? He said he had strongly counselled Dutch against taking any violent position vis-à-vis United Nations, though he did not so state, he presumably referred Stikker’s statement regarding possibility Dutch withdrawal from United Nations.
Repeated The Hague 9.