Draft Cablegram [1] CANBERRA, 2 August 1947

MOST IMMEDIATE

You will have learnt that Security Council called upon the parties
to cease hostilities and to settle their disputes by arbitration.

2. The brief reports we have would indicate that messages sent to
the several governments were effective. The only opposition
finally was from France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, all of
whom abstained. The United Kingdom delegate throughout the debates
did his utmost to have the Security Council side-tracked, and
intrigued with the Dutch with a view to having the matter
withdrawn on the grounds that the Dutch were willing to accept a
United States offer of mediation.

3. This action by the United Kingdom, following upon their
attitude prior to our reference to the Security Council when they
publicly stated that reference should be avoided because of the
delay, clearly demonstrates that support for the United Nations is
a secondary concern.

4. While the resolution was satisfactory from an Australian point
of view, and is apparently bringing Australia tremendous publicity
in New York, we cannot be content to leave the position as it is.

We are taking steps in an endeavour to ensure that there will be
in fact cessation of hostilities, and that the form of arbitration
selected will be satisfactory to both parties, and that Australia
shall have a part to play in the process of arbitration.

Appropriate messages have been sent to Washington [2] and London.

[3]

5. My own feeling is that we can only satisfactorily handle this
position now by insisting on immediate Australian representation
direct with the Republic. Our relations are such that we could, in
this way, play an active part in all negotiations. I should be
glad of your guidance in this, and, if you agree, we could take
immediate steps to appoint a suitable representative and to
receive a representative here. It is clear that the United Kingdom
will make every attempt to exclude us from all negotiations, and
the United States will also wish to exclude other powers in order
to preserve an exclusive trading interest. Representation with the
Republic direct, backed by the regard Indonesians have for
Australia, would be the best guarantee of effective Australian
participation, not only in these negotiations, but also in the
rehabilitation of Indonesia.