Office of the Historian

197. Telegram From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State1

Djakarta, December 13, 1956—2 p.m.

1407. From Assistant Secretary Robertson.2 (Prepared by Mein but no opportunity clear with Robertson before departure for Manila.)

Following is summary my talks yesterday with Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Secretary General Foreign Office and Speaker Parliament. Ambassador, Jones and Mein present at first three mentioned and Ambassador and Galbraith3 present at last conversation.

(1)
In conversation with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister I took up statement attributed Foreign Office spokesman re cutback US aid Indonesia4 (see Embtels 1408 and 14095).
(2)
Foreign Minister raised two issues: West Irian and Japanese reparations. Re West Irian he stated Indonesian Government hoped UNGA debate expected January or February would be devoid any bitterness but this depended entirely on Dutch. Indonesian Government hopes outcome debate will be UNGA resolution recognizing existence dispute and calling upon two parties seek peaceful solution [Page 333] but passage of such resolution might depend largely upon tone of debate. Foreign Minister stated his present thinking envisaged provision in resolution for exercise “good offices” of either President GA or Secretary-General UN in helping parties seek solution. He stated he had discussed this with Prince Wan6 and Hammarskjold who seemed favorably disposed. Also discussed it with Lodge. Abdulgani said Indonesians had received some vague suggestions from members Dutch UNGA delegation regarding possibility trusteeship but this unacceptable Indonesia. He thought that provided debate devoid bitterness some resolution along lines he envisaged might lead to impartial examination of all possible solutions. He frankly admitted he thought Indonesian views on Irian sovereignty would not be accepted by GA but thought above-mentioned resolution might provide way out of impasse which both Indonesians and Dutch now faced.
(3)
Re Japanese reparations, Foreign Minister asked again that we let Japanese Government know we are interested in seeing solution this problem. I told him we had on numerous occasions expressed our interest in settlement all Japanese reparation problems.
(4)
Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Secretary General all thought US stand on recent events Suez Canal served clarify our position on colonialism and enhance our prestige with Asian-African group. Secretary General in expanding on subject noted that Asian-African group present confidence in US had led them considerable distance toward meeting our views on Hungary and said he hoped we would recognize this development and help it along by not insisting on inclusion our resolution condemnation Soviet Union for Hungarian actions which they all deplored, especially since condemnation Anglo-French action was not included in Suez resolution.
(5)
Prime Minister expressed deep appreciation for President’s letter delivered him New Delhi7 which he stated helped clarify thinking on Hungary.
(6)
In all foregoing conversations I explained fully our consistent anti-colonial stand and our attitude towards Red China.
(7)
Conversation with Speaker Parliament and later conversation at Ambassador’s residence with State Planning Minister Djuanda largely social.
Cumming
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 756D.5–MSP/12–1356. Secret.↩
  2. Robertson and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Economic Affairs Howard P. Jones visited Indonesia December 11–13 during a trip to Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan.↩
  3. First Secretary of Embassy Francis J. Galbraith.↩
  4. A Foreign Ministry spokesman had been quoted in the press as saying that the U.S. aid program for Indonesia for the current year had been cut from $35 million to $15 million.↩
  5. Telegram 1408 from Djakarta, December 13, reported that Robertson had discussed the press report with Ali and Abdulgani, both of whom had stated that it was the result of a misunderstanding. Telegram 1409 of the same date reported that the Indonesian press had carried official denials of the story. (Both in Department of State, Central Files, 756D.5–MSP/12–1356)↩
  6. Prince Wan Waithayakon, President of the U.N. General Assembly.↩

  7. Eisenhower’s letter of November 12 to Ali, which replied to Ali’s letter of November 3 (see footnote 4, Document 193), reads in part:

    “There are heartening signs that our mutual effort to restore peace in the Middle East is bearing fruit. There is every reason to believe that the force of a united world opinion could be equally effective in bringing an end to the brutal suppressions of the liberties of the Hungarian people. I am sure you will agree that on a matter of fundamental moral principle, a double standard cannot be applied.

    “The United States would welcome from Indonesia the same stalwart opposition to the use of force in Hungary as it provided in the case of Egypt. I am hopeful that our two nations will work together in the United Nations for a just solution to the grave problems now confronting us.”

    The text of the letter was transmitted to Djakarta in telegram 774, November 12, and to New Delhi (where Ali was attending a meeting) in telegram 1262, November 13. (Department of State, Central Files, 780.00/11–1256 and 711.11–EI/11–1356, respectively)

    ↩