Your telegram regarding my movements [1] arrived last night, I
feel you understand that there was no personal motive involved.

A mass of useful information was in draft yesterday and we worked
all last night typing copies which have not yet even been
officially received by the Consular Mission. They are not checked
and in some cases only one copy is available, but with this
information being sent down by Sq/Ldr. Spence, you have everything
up to date.

My aeroplane leaves here at one o'clock for Singapore with Sq/Ldr.

Spence, and I have telegraphed Massey for immediate onward air
transport to Sydney for Spence. With luck he should get there on
Saturday, and I would be glad if you would please make
arrangements to meet him on arrival and have him brought to where
you wish. [This will be telegraphed.] [2]

Spoke to Schuurman this morning and he said that although the
gesture of a Dutch official going to Australia had been
appreciated, it was definitely decided that this should not happen
until possibly after the Committee of Three meet. With regard to
liaison officers between Djocja[carta] and Australia, Schuurman
stated that the matter is now between Keith Officer and The Hague.

Obviously they do not want this.

I think you will find our report on Sumatra [3], the Australian
Military report [4] and the draft submission for the joint report
[5] interesting, but I think the questions and verbatim answers
which we put to the Dutch and Indonesian officials [6] are of
particular interest as it shows the idea and temper of each side.

The delay of the submission of the final report is disappointing
and I cannot help but feel it means the end of any joint report in
spirit. I believe it had been stated by Dr. Foote that he will
submit a minority report in any case. This gentleman is very pro-
Dutch and very anti-Republican, and the same applies to
Vanderstichelen, the Belgian Consul-General. At this stage it
seems that myself, the British and French Consuls-General will be
in agreement and also probably the Chinese. However, the Chinese
Consul-General has no particular interest except as regards the
treatment of the Chinese. We had a chance if the report could have
been completed as at first arranged, now it is going to be most
difficult. I will endeavour to get reports submitted from time to
time and will inform you as soon as sections are submitted and
accepted by the mission.

The American attitude is not fully understood here, and the fact
that their military observers are not reporting to the mission as
a whole is disconcerting and I very much doubt if any conclusions
they reach will be given to us by the American Consul-General.

They definitely will not take part in any military joint report
which we are trying to get and this point now seems rather
hopeless.

Dr. van Hoogstraten, the economic adviser, came to see me last
night. I had met him when he was recently in Australia and going
back to the Indies with Nicholson of the Commonwealth Bank. He
told me that he is off to Holland and America and I gathered that
he was hoping for some commercial agreement between the Indies and
America. It might be worthwhile watching this.

Another point, the British and myself have officially brought
before the mission that we should, if at all possible, make firm
recommendations when all our final reports are submitted. I think
the others will follow in line, but doubt whether unanimity in
recommendations will be possible with the American and the
Belgian.

[matter omitted]