Office of the Historian

856d.00/5–1949: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Netherlands (Baruch) to the Secretary of State 1

secret   priority
The Hague, May 19, 1949—6 p. m.

440. Boon read us today extracts from latest Batavia report re situation Djocja. Main points were:

(1)
Serious situation created by desire of 25,000 at minimum to leave Republican area. Boon remarked that this is first tangible indication to world that many Indonesians do not look forward to return of Republicans to power and that exodus from Republican territory, although not as great as Pakistan–Indian evacuations, are likely to reach into hundreds of thousands.
(2)
Netherlands troops will not leave Djocja area until evacuations effected.
(3)
Situation in Djocja “not satisfactory” and liable to become increasingly dangerous because of Communist activity in neighborhood. Communists already filtering into Sultanate, and their troops are well disciplined, well fed and well armed. Tan Malakka seems to have effective control.

Boon said he finds it very difficult to decide whether or not Soekarno and Hatta will be able to maintain themselves after restoration. He added that it is folly for any Dutchman to hope they will be thrown out, because, if they were, a Communist government would be set up. [Page 412] The Van Royen–Roem agreement means concessions on both sides, and for the Republicans to restore and keep their authority the necessity of living up to agreement, principally because of Communist disaffection and activities.2

Baruch
  1. Repeated in telegram 292, Usgoc 370, May 20, 9 p. m., to Batavia.↩
  2. Telegram 443, May 19, 6 p. m., from The Hague, reported appointment of A. H. J. Lovink, Secretary-General of the Netherlands Foreign Office, as High Representative of the Crown in Indonesia. He arrived at Batavia on June 2.↩