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385 Australian Delegation, United Nations, to Department of External Affairs

Cablegram UN1018 NEW YORK, 22 October 1947, 8.13 p.m.

IMMEDIATE SECRET

Security 510.

Your UNY637 [1], no vote yet taken.

Council continued discussion on Indonesia today. Final Consular
report without annexes distributed at meeting. Annexes not
available till the end of the week. Philippines proposed that
M.S.C. [2] should assist in securing implementation of cease fire
order. United States spoke in support of their resolution, our
Security 509. [3]

Netherlands delivered long address on familiar lines justifying
their position and asserting it was not possible to observe cease
fire order literally. Steps were necessary to protect civilian
Chinese etc. Criticised United States resolution as being too
theoretical and suggested deletion of section calling for
cessation of 'activities which directly or indirectly contravene'
the cease fire order.

Soviet criticised Consular report as being outside terms of
reference of Commission and not objective. Asserted Council should
take action to secure cessation of hostilities and appealed for
support for Soviet resolution. [4]

Chairman then suggested adjournment of meeting till Monday to
enable study of full Consular report and annexes.

Soviet Union, Australia and Colombia all urged for meeting to be
held this week arguing that full report was sufficient for
decision on cessation of hostilities. Proposal to hold meeting
this week received only five votes. Next meeting to be held
Monday.

1 Dispatched on 22 October, it sought confirmation of press
reports of decisions take. by the Security Council regarding the
cease-fire in Indonesia.

2 The Military Sub-Commission of the Consular Commission.

3 Dispatched on 21 October, cablegram UN1008 (Security 509)
reported that the United States Delegation had circulated a draft
resolution calling on the parties to consult with each other in
order to give effect to the cease-fire order and requesting the
Committee of Good Offices to assist the parties to reach agreement
on that point.

4 See Document 365.


[AA:A1068/1, ER47/23/4]
Last Updated: 11 September 2013
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