501.BC Indonesia/5–749; Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Livengood) to the Secretary of State 1
urgent niact
416. Gocus 690. UNCFI meeting 5 p. m. today carried out as anticipated Gocus 689.2
After my question as to confirming and accepting statements, both chairmen replied affirmatively. I then said: “May I express my genuine appreciation of the excellent spirit in which the chairmen and their delegates have worked in their informal discussions and congratulate them warmly upon the results achieved. I think we should hereinafter refer to these results as ‘the Van Royen–Roem statements’.”
Van Royen replied: “I am happy to state on my part that my government is gratified at the first positive and hopeful results which this preliminary conference has obtained. I feel they augur well for the future. I wish assure Dr. Roem, as chairman his delegation, that agreement we have just reached will be carried out on our part with fairness and loyalty and that we shall see to it that no reprisals are taken and that no victimization occurs against anyone belonging to the other party. Allow me, Sir, to express before I end these brief remarks, my appreciation and sincere thanks to your commission, and more especially to yourself, for tUNCFI’s constant and fortunately fruitful efforts to assist the parties in arriving at an agreement.”
Roem said in turn: “I am grateful for the expressions of Dr. Van Royen. We too shall implement the agreement in the same spirit. We share Dr. Van Royen’s feelings, and shall do our utmost working in the same direction”.
I stated understood that two delegations desire to meet informally on Monday afternoon May 9 to name members to two committees envisaged in statements just made and to plan work thereof. Furthermore members to be named by and from commission itself to those committees will join the conversations. While its preparatory committee is working, commission will continue to meet in Batavia for discussion of other items of agenda.
After meeting exchange of letters on Maguwo Airport took place privately.
[Page 410]Meeting was entirely successful and everyone in best Spirits. With two committees to be set up Monday, progress should be made rapidly. I plan utilize Abbey3 as deputy on preparatory committees. Signed Cochran.
- Repeated in telegram 405, May 10, 6 p. m., to The Hague.↩
- Supra. For letter dated May 7 from the Netherlands Representative (J. W. M. Snouck Hurgronje) to the President of the UN Security Council, quoting statements of the Netherlands and Republic of Indonesia as read at the meeting, see Department of State Bulletin, May 22, 1949, pp. 653–654 (UN document S/1319, May 7). For press release issued on May 9 giving the U.S. Government’s approval, see ibid., p. 654. Mr. Acheson sent Mr. Cochran a telegram (266, May 9, 2 p. m.) of congratulation. (123 H. Merle Cochran)↩
- Glenn A. Abbey, Consul at Batavia.↩