132. Telegram 10849 From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State, September 4, 1975, 0416Z.1 2
September
4, 1975, 0416Z
TELEGRAM
Department of State
JAKARTA 10849
R 040416Z SEP 75
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0079
JAKARTA 10849
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PFOR PINS ID PO PT AS
SUBJECT: US AND PORTUGUESE TIMOR
REF: JAKARTA 10848
- 1.
- IN COURSE CONVERSATION WITH ACTING FOREIGN MINISTER MOCHTAR SEPTEMBER 3, HE ASKED ME HOW U.S. REGARDED CURRENT INDONESIAN APPROACH TIMOR PROBLEM.
- 2.
- I TOLD HIM THIS WAS ONE PROBLEM IN WHICH U.S. NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED, THAT OUR PRIMARY INTEREST WAS IN SEEING THAT ISSUE DID NOT DEVELOP IN WAY WHICH WOULD CREATE PROBLEMS IN U.S.-INDONESIAN RELATIONS. WE DID NOT OBJECT INCORPORATION COLONY INTO INDONESIA PROVIDED IT WAS DONE IN WAY CONSISTENT WITH SELF-DETERMINATION AND PEACE IN AREA. I EXPLAINED U.S. LEGISLATION WITH RESPECT USE OF U.S. MILITARY EQUIPMENT OUTSIDE INDONESIA.
- 3.
- HE THEN ASKED WHAT U.S. ATTITUDE WOULD BE TOWARD USE U.S. EQUIPMENT IN RESTORATION ORDER IN TIMOR UNDER FOUR POWER JOINT AUTHORITY. I SAID LAW WAS CLEAR THAT EQUIPMENT COULD BE USED ONLY FOR INTERNAL SECURITY AND SELF-DEFENSE OF INDONESIA, BUT THAT INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION LAWS DEPENDED ON CIRCUMSTANCES AT TIME. WHILE I COULD NOT FORESHADOW PRECISE REACTION OR INTERPRETATION IN EXECUTIVE OR CONGRESS, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT INDONESIA WAS SHOWING RESTRAINT AND THAT EFFORTS RESTORE ORDER AND PORTUGUESE RULE UNDER FOUR POWER AEGIS WITHOUT PREJUDGING FINAL POLITICAL OUTCOME APPEARED TO BE RESPONSIBLE POLICY ON INDONESIA’S PART.
NEWSOM