320 Department of External Affairs to Netherlands Legation

Note CANBERRA, 8 September 1947

The Department of External Affairs presents its compliments to the Royal Netherlands Legation and, in acknowledging receipt of the Legation's Note (C.15/4351) concerning the reported activities in Melbourne of Dr. Raden Usman Sastroamidjojo [1], has the honour to inform the Legation that, in this as in other matters, the Australian Government would be pleased to exercise its benevolent influence in a manner designed to promote good relations between the peoples of the Netherlands and Indonesia. The Department is not aware, however, of any of the objectionable activities referred to. The fact of speaking is not in itself objectionable, and what was reported to have been said appears not to be objectionable. [2] The Department points out, however, that it is difficult to impose restraints on Dr. Usman or any other Indonesian in the face of public charges made by Dutch authorities, for instance, those reported in to-day's press as being made by Dr. van Mook. [3] In our view it would be proper that no such statements of this nature should be made from either side pending the findings of the Committee of Three.