129. Telegram 10044 From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State, August 16, 1975, 0810Z.1 2

TELEGRAM
Department of State
JAKARTA 10044

R 160810Z AUG 75

FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9778
INFO AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY LISBON

JAKARTA 10044

EO 11652:GDS
TAGS: PFOR PO PT ID AS

SUBJ: INDONESIA AND PORTUGUESE TIMOR
REF: STATE 194779

1.
WE ARE IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH DEPARTMENT’S EXCELLENT ASSESSMENT IN REFTEL OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO PORTUGUESE TIMOR ISSUE.
2.
WE HAVE INTENTIONALLY NOT TAKEN ACTIVE ROLE IN SOLICITING INFORMATION OR PROFFERING ADVISE ON TIMOR ISSUE. FROM CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD AND FROM INTELLIGENCE REPORTS IT IS CLEAR APPREHENSION OVER US REACTION IS MAJOR FACTOR IN PRESIDENT’S CURRENT POSTURE OF RESTRAINT.
3.
PRINCIPAL SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION I HAVE HAD WAS AUGUST 12 WITH GENERAL MURDANI OF ARMY INTELLIGENCE. HE SAID PRESIDENT REALIZED THAT IF INDONESIA INVADED TIMOR, RESULTS OF CAMP DAVID MEETING WOULD BE LOST. I OUTLINED TO HIM CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON TURKEY AND REASONS THEREFORE. I SAID US NOT OPPOSED TO INCORPORATION OF TIMOR BUT HOPED PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES COULD BE FOUND.
4.
WE HAVE NOT YET SUPPLIED GOI WITH SPECIFICATIONS FROM FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT. (PARA 5 OF REFTEL) WE WILL DO SO AT APPROPRIATE LEVEL. GIVEN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF INDONESIAN CONCERNS, HOWEVER, AND MY TALK WITH MURDANI I BELIEVE SPECIFIC HIGH LEVEL DEMARCHE UNNECESSARY AND POSSIBLY IMPOLITIC AT THIS TIME. IN INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS WE WILL MAKE POINTS IN PARA 7 REFTEL.
5.
GENERAL YOGA OF BAKIN HAS BRIEFED SEVERAL AMBASSADORS, INCLUDING ASEAN REPRESENTATIVES, AUSTRALIAN, BRITISH AND JAPANESE. HE ASKED TO SEE ME BUT THEN CANCELLED WHEN HE WAS SUMMONED TO MEETING AT PALACE. IF CALLED. I WILL LISTEN AND MAKE APPROPRIATE POINTS FROM REFTEL IN REPLY. NEWSOM
  1. Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to Canberra and Lisbon.
  2. The Embassy responded to the Department’s telegram on Portuguese Timor.