756D.00/12–2454: Telegram
No. 307
The Ambassador in Indonesia (Cumming) to the Department of State
secret
Djakarta, December 24,
1954—noon.
986. Had over an hour not very productive conversation with Foreign Minister this morning. Gave him Secretary’s Christmas greetings which he reciprocated. Only mention of Irian was heartfelt appreciation for US abstention in GA vote.
Following reference to Deptel 777.1
- A–1.
- Elections will be held 1955. New Home Minister honest and vigorous and is personally and politically interested in pressing forward with elections in contrast to predecessor (this corroborates Hatta’s statement to me the other day).
- A–3.
- Bitter criticism not so much of American press direct misrepresentation of Indo scene as hurt that government’s point of view not given equal space. No promise by Foreign Minister to improve conditions of entry for US correspondence.
- A–5.
- Foreign Minister, Education Minister and Prime Minister pressing Monetary Board for favorable decision. Preliminary analysis terms of FCN treaty now on Foreign Minister’s desk for his personal study (actually showed me file). He himself wants to go ahead but not sanguine rapid progress.
- A–6.
- Foreign Minister and Finance Minister anxious to press ahead with already prepared draft bill but Agriculture Minister and others are delaying in effort reconcile foreign investment policy bill with land reform projects.
- B–1.
- Increase last few months in Soviet bloc trade agreements partly coincidental and partly due political necessity showing public something being done counteract economic effects China embargo.
- B–3.
- Discussed at length with usual disclaimers PKI direct or indirect influence over government; “actually it is PKI who have to make adjustments to government policies”. I stressed the adverse effect of government taking no action against PKI use of party symbol to cover PKI and independent voters. Foreign Minister said confidentially this point received prolonged consideration during a special Cabinet meeting last night. Cabinet was divided upon course of action to be taken but he and Prime Minister hoped authorization to PKI would be revoked before “more harm was done”. He said that in Central and Eastern Java PKI was definitely losing support and PNI gaining.
- C–1.
- While government leaders might make strong statements against Dutch for bargaining purposes Cabinet was well aware of danger of letting mass emotions get out of hand and internally was trying restrain extremists instigated by PKI. I pointed out danger of PNI leaders making publicly statements that might play into PKI hands.
- C–3.
- Foreign Minister said that action, which he did not specify, would be taken in near future which he thought would satisfy my observations on necessity of support of independence of Laos and Cambodia by their neighbors.
Cumming