145. Telegram 15438 From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State, December 17, 1975, 0742Z.1 2
December
17, 1975, 0742Z
TELEGRAM
Department of State
JAKARTA 15438
P R 170742Z DEC 75
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO SECSTATE
WASHDC PRIORITY 1791
USMISSION USUN
NEW YORK PRIORITY
INFO AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY
LISBON
AMCONSUL MEDAN
AMCONSUL SURABAYA
JAKARTA 15438
FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY HABIB FROM CHARGE RIVES
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PFOR PINS ID PO PT US
SUBJ: EFFECT OF TIMOR ON US-INDONESIAN RELATIONS
REF: A) USUN 6863; B) LISBON 7427; C) LISBON 7448,
D) JAKARTA 14950, E) JAKARTA 15374
- 1.
- OUR APPROACH TO TIMOR QUESTION, AND PARTICULARLY OUR ABSTENTION ON UNGA TIMOR RESOLUTION, HAS ENABLED US SO FAR TO PRESERVE INTACT US-INDONESIAN RELATIONSHIP. INDONESIA HAD HOPED AND EXPECTED AUSTRALIA TO ABSTAIN ON UNGA RESOLUTION (AND INDEED AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY HAD SO RECOMMENDED) AND THERE IS EVERY EVIDENCE OF EXTREME GOI DISPLEASURE WITH GOA VOTE, ONLY TEMPERED BY HOPE THAT ELECTED FRASER GOVERNMENT WILL FEE MORE ABLE TO TAKE HELPFUL STANCE THAN WAS FRASER CARETAKER GOVERNMENT.
- 2.
- IN LIGHT OF ABOVE, AND IN VIEW OF OUR CONTINUING EFFORTS NOT TO BE IDENTIFIED WITH PROBLEM, WE WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT US STANCE IN SECURITY COUNCIL BE COMPATIBLE WITH THAT IN UNGA, I.E., VOTING AGAINST OR AT LEAST ABSTAINING ON ANY RESOLUTION WHICH UNACCEPTABLE TO INDONESIA (NOTE AMBASSADOR’S RECOMMENDATION IN PARA 9 REF D). WE WOULD THEREFORE HOPE THAT USG RESPONSE TO APPROACH BY PORTUGUESE PERMREP GALVAO TELES (REF A) WOULD NOT GO BEYOND REPLY GIVEN HIM BY AMB BENNETT.
- 3.
- IN REGARD PORTUGUESE MILITARY DETAINEES HELD IN TIMOR (REFS B AND C), WE WOULD RECOMMEND AGAINST OUR MAKING APPROACH TO GOI. INDONESIANS ARE AWARE OF OUR CONCERN FOR HUMANITARIAN ASPECTS OF TIMOR PROBLEM, INCLUDING 23 DETAINEES. HOWEVER GOI WOULD ALMOST SURELY REPLY TO US APPROACH WITH SAME STATEMENT GIVEN AUSTRALIANS ON QUESTION OF ICRC MEDICAL TEAM -THAT INDONESIA NOT IN CONTROL OF EAST TIMOR AND HENCE DEMARCHE SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO APODETI UDT (REF E). ONLY RESULT OF US EFFORT WOULD BE GOI RESENTMENT THAT WE INVOLVING OURSELVES IN TIMOR QUESTION, CONTRARY TO OUR UNDERSTOOD POLICY OF NOT SO DOING.
RIVES