656.56D/10–151: Telegram
The Ambassador in Indonesia (Cochran) to the Secretary of State
priority
508. Supomo at lunch today recounted experiences Hague on preliminary discussion revision RTC. He said PriMin Drees1 unwilling admit possibility his govt agreeing to abrogation RTC prior elections June 1952 unless acceptable substitute agreement reached in advance elections. Even then Drees wld prefer postpone negots until after elections. Supomo said Catholic leader Romns2 agreeable to immediate negots. Decision reached that Neth and Indo Govts shld each appoint small comite to draft working papers on replace agreement. Said Comites will meet in Paris in Nov at time UNGA and pursue their joint deliberations there and/or Hague.
Supomo expects head Indo comite with few econ and legal advisors. Thinks Blom3 and Goetzen4 will be principal Neth Comitemen. Supomo said he hoped negots cld be expedited. Drees had countered that absolutely impossible have any plenary conf in 1951. Supomo regretted Dec might pass again without Irian question being resolved. Neth officials inquired whether Indos wld still make trouble for Neth on Irian if Neth gave acceptable agreement on RTC. Supomo said Indo claim on Irian wld still remain and while Indo Govt wld not itself resort to coercive tactics there was always possibility Indo people might demonstrate their unhappiness. Supomo emphasized necessity solving both Irian and RTC questions. He said US cld be most helpful if it wld oppose any delaying tactics on part Neth Govt in negots on RTC. Supomo also hoped some constructive support on part US for Indo claim to Irian wld follow Subardjo’s visit to US.
When Supomo asked Neth negotiators what criteria they envisaged in replace agreement Neth replied they felt there shld still be special relationship between Neth and Indo and former wld not be satisfied simply by most-favored-nation treatment. Supomo did not tell me just what he replied but made clear to me Indo wld not countenance continuation any union organs and wld have to keep in mind relations with other friendly powers when deciding what treatment to accord Neth.
In view foregoing info, I recommend against US suggesting any [Page 710] form delaying tactics to one or both union partners. (Deptel 3585). Viewpoints both sides known to each other so exchange Parliamentary visits unnecessary. Negots will require several months even in normal course. I object particularly to any idea studying India-UK relationship as model or drawing India into controversy or negots in any way.
- Willem Drees, Prime Minister of the Netherlands.↩
- Presumably the reference is to F. J. T. Rutten, Minister of Education, Arts, and Science.↩
- N. S. Blom, Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.↩
- Presumably the reference is to Lumbertus Goetzen, Minister Without Portfolio in the previous government, and co-chairman of the Netherlands’ delegation for the Union Statute negotiations that began in December.↩
- Not printed; the Department of State in telegram 358 to Djakarta, September 20, informed Ambassador Cochran that Ambassador van Roijen had visited the Department on September 19 to discuss the Netherlands’ attitude toward revising the Union Statute. The Ambassador said it was politically difficult, if not impossible, for the present Netherlands Government to agree to the statute’s revision. Mr. van Roijen suggested that, until the general elections had been conducted in the spring of 1952, delaying tactics be pursued. After the elections, he believed that it would be possible for the new government to agree to a new relationship with Indonesia. The Department officials who talked with Ambassador van Roijen endorsed his suggestions, but the Department asked Ambassador Cochran for his comments regarding these stratagems. (656.56D/9–2051)↩