Note CANBERRA, 8 September 1947

The Department of External Affairs presents its compliments to the
Royal Netherlands Legation and, in acknowledging receipt of the
Legation's Note (C.15/4351) concerning the reported activities in
Melbourne of Dr. Raden Usman Sastroamidjojo [1], has the honour to
inform the Legation that, in this as in other matters, the
Australian Government would be pleased to exercise its benevolent
influence in a manner designed to promote good relations between
the peoples of the Netherlands and Indonesia. The Department is
not aware, however, of any of the objectionable activities
referred to. The fact of speaking is not in itself objectionable,
and what was reported to have been said appears not to be
objectionable. [2] The Department points out, however, that it is
difficult to impose restraints on Dr. Usman or any other
Indonesian in the face of public charges made by Dutch
authorities, for instance, those reported in to-day's press as
being made by Dr. van Mook. [3] In our view it would be proper
that no such statements of this nature should be made from either
side pending the findings of the Committee of Three.