501.BC Indonesia/1–2149: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Netherlands (Baruch) to the Secretary of State
most immediate niact
90. At request Foreign Office called on Stikker and received following information:
Yesterday immediately prior to Cabinet meeting to discuss and formulate answer to SC resolution, Beel called from Batavia and outlined plan for immediate solution of Indonesian questions, which they found necessary to keep secret for present, which Beel and the Cabinet agreed offered an excellent chance of complete success to achieve objectives of resolution without delay and sooner than contemplated in resolution. Beel stated he had discussed plan with Federalists and it was acceptable to them and they had in turn consulted available leaders of Repub who had found great merit in suggested approach and had consented to going with Federalist leaders to Bangka for joint meeting to be held today which Beel would probably be invited to attend.
Stikker expressed great optimism on this plan which had been presented to Cabinet and met with their approval. He did not feel at liberty to disclose any details of plan. I asked him if it was in any way reflection of our Canadian colleague’s suggestion and he said it was in no way connected with this. He further stated that Critchley had already approached Dutch authorities and wished to know what they were going to do about resolution. He said Herremans had been consulted and was agreeable to allow reasonable length of time for Dutch response to SC resolution and that matter now rested in hands of Lisle who had expressed no opinion as far as Beel was aware.
Stikker said that object of his asking me to visit him was to have me request our government to do whatever was possible to grant Dutch Government at least two or three days delay in making reply to SC resolution because of his belief that satisfactory solution might be found in Beel’s suggestion for meeting convened for today on Bangka and requested that I urgently communicate this to Department. He said instructions had been sent to Van Kleffens in similar vein and that Van Royen had been instructed in premises.