501.BC Indonesia/6–849: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia 1
317. Usgoc 378. Sudjatmoko, Sumitro and Sudarpo2 called on Dept officers June 7, Sudarpo having returned from New Delhi and Bangka. Three concerned to impress upon Dept tenuous position Sukarno, Hatta vis-à-vis Repub polit leaders Java with whom Sudarpo had conversed, attitude these leaders being that they could support May 7 agreement with fingers crossed, not placing great reliance on sincerity Dutch intentions; that Sukarno, Hatta shld not have negotiated May 7 agreement without reps Emergency Govt participating; that shld either restoration Repub to Jogja or conversations at Hague drag as previous negots had, they would be unable further to support Sukarno, Hatta. Dept officers replied that they cld see no occasion for discouragement on part Indo polit leaders since course events last three months uniformly favorable to Repub position; that Neth Govt had apparently effected complete change previous policy; that no evidence had developed in course negots Batavia to give rise suspicion Neth intentions. Dept officers undertook acquaint trio with delicate balance present Neth coalition govt and unhappy consequences its fall. Forur info, Dept aware for some time of possibility split between Indo Repubs US and Sukarno, Hatta and associates. It not impossible that this group had hoped that Sjafruddin wld hold out for struggle for complete independence Repub as against negotiated solution embodying USI.
[Page 419]In course conversation fol points emerged: (1) Sudarpo said that it was Hatta’s position that Repub cld attend Hague Conf only if it held under UNCFI auspices and that in no event cld he attend under Neth auspices. Dept officers indicated that they were not aware that Hatta felt so strongly this matter and asked if he had represented these views to Cochran. Sudarpo said he did not know but that he thought Roem had done so. Dept officers impressed upon trio importance of minimizing prestigious considerations, of getting ahead with orderly transfer of sovereignty to USI and of importance to Neth Govt and people of some face-saving device such as acting as hosts at Hague Conf. Trio unimpressed, asked if Dept favorably disposed toward rotating chairmanship at Hague Conf. Dept officers replied Dept had no opinion, thought proposal not unreasonable, insisted that matters shld be settled Batavia. (2) Trio much concerned that Hatta’s Sukarno’s return to Jogja be attended by appearance of needed police equipment, public utilities and consumer goods to the end that their influence with wavering constituents be restored. Dept officers explained Cochran’s view that such things shld be provided by Neth who under obligation to do so May 7 agreement. Trio obviously partially satisfied when told that Neth already prepared to supply jeeps and other equipment as well as uniforms for police and that arming of police presently under discussion. Trio stated that if textiles, medicines, office equipment, etc supplied by Neth inadequate, they wld feel compelled to try to get such supplies to Hatta, Sukarno from US. (3) Sudarpo said that Sukarno had told him that solution of Indo problem now rested solely with US, that if US “backed down” he and Hatta were finished and that chaos and Communism wld be inevitable result in Indonesia. Dept officers replied to effect that Indonesians must learn to stand on own feet, that US position in Indo dispute result of UN participation. Dept officers declared their awareness Commie threat Indonesia and their great concern that it be liquidated. This connection, reported execution Tan Malaka discussed, trio claiming they had confirmation this report, for which they were congratulated. (4) Trio anticipates deceleration progress restoration and plans for Hague. Dept officers replied that June 15 and July 15 were dates for respective events and in their knowledge had been for some six weeks; that they were unaware any desire part of Neth to delay restoration or conf beyond those dates.