Your telegrams are apparently now arriving smoothly. Please thank
Mulrooney for his telegram. [1] I fully understand his
difficulties. I have not shown any incoming messages to anybody
but have allowed Christison to see two outgoing. I have now
declined to show him any more.

Your telegram 14 of 20th November. [2] Your proposal has aroused
tremendous enthusiasm of both Christison and Sjahrir. Christison
says that it is the best news for a long time, and can make the
difference between salvation and disaster for civilians here. I
believe this proposal is of quite exceptional importance in
winning goodwill for Australia from all parties here and would
most earnestly urge that you send first ship earliest possible.

Please inform me of its expected time of arrival.

Walsh has specifically requested that I ask you to make no public
statement on the Indonesian problem at this stage.

Events during these last few days confirm my opinion I have
previously expressed in these messages. The situation is rapidly
deteriorating and I believe that there is little scope for any
success of Conference still scheduled for to-morrow. Shooting and
violence in the centre of Batavia is increasing daily, though the
decision to remove all of Ambonese troops from the city may
produce a temporary remission of fighting here, since the Ambonese
have been responsible for much of the provocation and aggravation
of sickening atrocities. Trustworthy war correspondents assure me
that official communiques continue to give a misleading picture of
the military situation. I accept this view. I believe that the
present policy or lack of policy is certain to fail to achieve any
settlement, much less a satisfactory settlement. Hence I reiterate
the view that immediate international action is necessary though
naturally I am unable to know whether a public statement is likely
to be most effective way to achieve this.

I am sending a Diplomatic bag to-morrow. I am enclosing fuller
report. [3] This cable was despatched from Batavia on 21st
November.