Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally

Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally

152 Beasley to Department of External Affairs

Cablegram 223 LONDON, 24 July 1947, 10.43 p.m.

IMMEDIATE TOP SECRET

Your telegram 260. [1]

The proposal for arbitration in Indonesia in part arises from Article 17(2) of Linggadjati Agreement. [2] Dutch maintain that article did not contemplate arbitration in circumstances like present but legal advisers of United Kingdom Government are satisfied that it is applicable. Bevin thinks that arbitration should be quite formal and that no ordinary mediation such as was successful from time to time before is likely to succeed now that hostilities have broken out. Bevin saw United States Ambassador last night (23rd July) and United Kingdom Charge d'Affaires Washington has been instructed to see Secretary of State urgently for same purpose. India is not actually a party to approach to United States.

2. Your paragraph 2. It is view of present Provisional Indian Government (Pakistan will not be separated until August 15th).

Bevin saw Menon (Personal Representative of Nehru) on 23rd July and latter said India was concerned about situation and was prepared to assist in any way possible. Bevin outlined his proposal to approach the United States and Menon did not demur.

3. Arrangements which have been operative for supply of military equipment and training assistance to Dutch troops by United Kingdom Government are being considered in light of Dutch action.

I understand C.R.O. [3] will telegraph any decision when made. [4]

4. Embassy at Washington has been asked to report direct to you on United States reactions to Arbitration proposal.

1 Dispatched on 24 July (before receipt of Document 15o), it sought clarification of the type of action Bevin was apparently contemplating taking with the United States Government (see Document 141 and note 3 thereto). Surprise was also expressed in regard to the reported disinclination of India to have the Indonesian question referred to the Security Council (paragraph 2 of Document 141) and Beasley was asked whether this was the view of India or of both India and Pakistan.

2 See Appendix I.

3 Commonwealth Relations Office.

4 Addison advised on 25 July that United Kingdom Ministers had agreed that action to terminate access by the Dutch to British military supplies and facilities in the Far East could be taken if the Netherlands Government failed to respond positively to the proposed arbitration offer referred to in Document 150.

[AA : A1838/283, 403/3/1/1, viii]

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