My telegram 11th October D No.1898. [1] Java.

Admiral Mountbatten recently discussed the situation in Java with
General Christison, Admiral Patterson [2], Dr. van Mook, M. Van
der Plas [3] and Admiral Helfrich and has reported as follows-
(a) The existing Indonesian administration in Java is temporarily
in a strong position
(I) They hold some 100,000 Dutch prisoners of war and internees
concentrated in camps in the interior whom they regard as valuable
hostages.

(II) Administration of the country is in their hands.

(III) Indonesian forces are well armed with Japanese equipment.

(b) There is a most serious shortage of food and coal.

2. Complete agreement was reached by Admiral Mountbatten with the
Netherlands representatives as to the immediate action to be
taken, and as to further action to be recommended to the
Government. The immediate action which Admiral Mountbatten intends
to approve (within his existing directive) is
(a) To accelerate the arrival of British troops.

(b) To authorise a meeting under British Military auspices at
which Netherlands officers and Indonesian leaders would be
invited. This meeting would be announced as one to negotiate
various problems under the auspices of the United Nations.

(c) To occupy the areas of Buitenzorg and Bandoeng immediately.

3. Further action to which Admiral Mountbatten and Dr. van Mook
agreed was that the latter should ask the Netherlands Government
for authority to agree to a meeting of political leaders to
discuss methods for implementing the Queen of the Netherlands
declaration of December, 1942, (which did not reach the people at
the time and has not been rebroadcast since. It will now be widely
published in the Netherlands East Indies). Admiral Mountbatten
recommended that General Christison (British Commander in Java)
should attend this meeting, and should inform Indonesian leaders
of the forces available to him should law and order not be
maintained, and of his authority to use these forces. Pending the
meeting, maximum use would be made of Indonesian officials now in
Administrative Control; and Netherlands forces would be held back
from initial contact with Indonesians and used only in areas
already secured by British troops. Admiral Mountbatten has
represented that the proposed action by General Christison is
outside his (Admiral Mountbatten's) present directive which would
require amendment accordingly.

4. The success of the further action recommended in previous
paragraphs depends, in Admiral Mountbatten's opinion, upon the
Netherlands Government authorising Dr. van Mook to secure the good
will and co-operation of the Indonesian people.

5. General Christison has represented that if any further
Netherlands troops are landed in Java, there would be a likelihood
of civil war in which British Indian troops would become involved.

6. Mr. Dening (Political Advisor to SACSEA) considers that there
are good reasons for including Soekarno in the negotiations
referred to in paragraph 3 above, or if the Netherlands Government
cannot be persuaded to do this, at any rate for not excluding him
specifically if in the opinion of Netherlands officials on the
spot it is necessary for him to be there.

7. The Viceroy of India [4] has informed Jawaharlal Nehru [5] in
reply to a request for facilities to visit Java at the invitation
of the President of the 'Provisional Government of Indonesia',
that in the present conditions he cannot recommend that Nehru, or
anyone else whose presence in Java is not absolutely essential,
should be permitted to visit Java.

8. See my immediately following telegram. [6]