856d.00/7–1849: Telegram
The Chargé in the Netherlands (Steere) to the Secretary of State 1
611. Embtel 601, July 15.2 Commenting today on last week’s Chamber debates Indonesia, Boon said Roem statement which he knew Cochran had brought about had been, he felt, of greatest usefulness in helping Cabinet surmount recent crisis, and was appreciated accordingly.
Bearing on Cochran concern Dutch might make breaches cease-fire order excuse for putting off round table conference (Gocus 756,3 Deptel 607, July 13), Boon reiterated today Netherlands policy is earliest possible RTC. Said no responsible government official or anyone [Page 461] acquainted Indonesia expects cease-fire be fully effective and would not be surprised if only “50 percent effective” up to time transfer sovereignty. If Republicans issue cease-fire order as agreed and there is evidence of genuine effort by Republican leaders to carry out he considered Dutch expectations would be met, and that RTC would proceed as planned.
Questioned re Netherlands attitude on federation question at RTC and the significance of final paragraph of statement by president Second Chamber following recent debate Indonesian question (Embtel 601, July 15), Boon said Netherlands inevitably would attach greatest importance to principles enunciated in paragraph in question4 in arriving at agreement for transfer of sovereignty. He spoke of Republican desire that USI consist of only three negaras (Republic, Borneo and East Indonesia) and said he thought there might be a dozen negaras if Indonesians enjoyed unrestricted self-determination. He did not regard as justified, for example, Republican desire incorporate all of Sumatra in the Republic.
- Repeated in telegram 383, Usgoc 407, July 19, 9 p. m., to Batavia.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Supra.↩
- Namely, “The Chamber once more declares itself in favor of the speedy establishment of a free and sovereign US of Indonesia formed by equal constituent states on the basis of the unrestricted right of self-determination of the Indonesian people”.↩