496 Burton to Kirby
Cablegram 412 CANBERRA, 31 December 1947, 9 p.m.
IMMEDIATE SECRET
Dutch have now decided to pursue plan of United States of
Indonesia making Republic one amongst many States (see cable K.32
respect of foreign relations and also domestic policy will be
decisions dictated by Dutch through their influence on separate
states majority of which are Dutch established. Republic will have
achieved no independence even possibly in local affairs within
Republic.
2. Dutch claim they are acting on principle of self-determination,
and that political units so far established have been result of
spontaneous movements.
3. It would seem to us the duty of Committee of Three to verify
Dutch claims in view of Republic[an] contradictions. Two questions
need investigation: (a) whether economic power is being used to
assist in setting up economic units or whether movements are, in
fact, spontaneous; and (b) whether the means of giving expression
to self-determination are satisfactory, and, if not, what kind of
supervision is required and by what body.
4. If Dutch claims regarding present spontaneous movements towards
organisation, and regarding the need for Dutch troops to protect
native populations against Republic, are valid, they can have no
objection to withdrawal of troops along lines of plan put forward,
leaving large area free of troops from both sides. In fact,
withdrawal of troops and lifting of all restrictions on movements
of goods within Indonesia should be accomplished before any
attempt is made to give effect to self-determination. There can be
no self-determination when the peoples concerned are under the
military and economic control of those from whom they might wish
to be freed.
5. It is suggested that you might make these points in public if
you think that course desirable, but at least record your views
for the information of the Security Council.
[AA:A1838/283, 403/3/1/1, xiv]
1 Document 494.
[1]). This means decisions taken by United States of Indonesia in
