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249 Department of External Affairs to Hodgson

Cablegram 434 CANBERRA, 6 August 1947, 2 p.m.

MOST IMMEDIATE SECRET

Djocjakarta Radio this morning at 4.15 broadcast what was
described as an official report from the Republican Government to
the President of the Security Council protesting against a number
of violations of the cease fire order. The report claimed that
operations carried out by the Dutch were confirmed by broadcasts
by the Dutch Radio in Batavia although they were described as
mopping up operations. Djocjakarta Radio repeated its request to
the Security Council to send within the shortest possible time a
supervisory body appointed by the Council consisting of the
representatives of several countries. For your information the
following is a summary from unconfirmed sources available to us of
what appeared to be main Dutch violations of the Council's cease
fire order:-

1. PURWAKARTA (PUWOKERTO) AREA:

The Dutch consolidated themselves in this area after 1st August
and claimed its capture in a communique of 3rd August. Actually
the city seems virtually to have fallen on 1st August.

2. TJILATJAP AREA:

The capture of this port was claimed on 3rd August by the Dutch.

In a communique of 4th August the Dutch stated that they had
occupied Kroja and Sumpiuh, towns in the vicinity of Tjilatjap.

3. MADURA:

The Dutch landed on Madura on 4th August to take 'safety
measures'. Their communique of 5th August stated the progress had
been made in 'clearing actions' on Madura. It is reported here
today that the Indonesians shot down a Dutch plane in this area on
5th August.

4. NORTH JAVA:

The Dutch communique of 5th August stated that progress had been
made in 'clearing actions' in North Java and in particular that
Grisse, a town 10 miles north west of Sourabaya, had been
occupied.

5. CENTRAL JAVA:

Dutch communique of 5th August stated that Gombong, 20 miles east
of Banjumas, had been occupied.

6. SUMATRA:

Communique of 5th August claimed that towns to north of Padang and
south east of Medan were captured.

You should follow up the statement referred to in paragraph 3 of
your UN722 [1] by impressing on the Council the urgency in view of
the obvious violations of its directions of having first hand
information rather than unconfirmed and biased reports from both
sides which will further poison the already tense atmosphere. Our
view is that increased Dutch military action after decision of
Council for 'immediate' cessation of hostilities is in itself
flagrant violation of Council decision and 'Police action' to
maintain law and order cannot be accepted by Security Council as
being within its decision.

1 Document 244.


[AA:A1838/274, 854/10/4, ii]
Last Updated: 11 September 2013
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