56. Telegram From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State0
3681. For Assistant Secretary Robertson from Jones. Two approaches have been made by top level officers to Army Attaché1 within 24 hours on subject of American assistance to rebels by arms dropping. First was by Colonel Jani First Deputy Chief of Staff, who said US assistance to rebels has placed pro-American officers in Indonesian Army in untenable position and unless something is done to support them their influence in picture will seriously deteriorate.
Second approach was by Lt. Colonel Sukardjo, who is Acting Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence in absence of Colonel Sukendro, who is now in Sumatra. He said Colonel Sukendro urgently wishes to see Army Attaché on his return—that dropping of American weapons to Nainggolan’s2 troops two weeks ago has produced violent anti-American reaction among officers and troops of Regiment 2 which has been anti-Communist in orientation. Losses following drops have exacerbated reaction.
Colonel Sukardjo then related following incident as illustrative of position in which pro-American officers were being placed as result of arms dropping. Last week after Cabinet meeting at which Colonel Sukendro briefed the Cabinet on current situation Minister Hanafi3 asked Sukendro in the presence of Sukarno, “What are these good friends of yours, the Americans, in which you have put so much faith, doing to you? Dropping weapons they are helping to kill our brothers. Don’t you think you have trusted them too much?”
Sukarno said, “What the Americans are doing is not Sukendro’s fault.” Sukendro said, “The Americans who brought the weapons to Sumatra are not my friends. My friends are the official Americans and they have had nothing to do with this.”
Hanafi said, “Prove it,” and walked away.