INDONESIA

The Security Council has three times ordered a cessation of
hostilities in Indonesia: On 1st August, the Security Council
called upon the parties 'to cease hostilities forthwith'; on 25th
August, 'to adhere strictly to the recommendation of the Security
Council of 1st August, 1947'; on 1st November 'to cease any
activities or incitement to activities which contravene that
resolution'.

Djokjakarta Radio reported on 6th November that seven Dutch
aircraft attacked Bandjarnegora on 4th November, killing 7
civilians, and wounding 4. Hilversum Radio is reported to have
admitted that 'drastic measures' were taken against Bandjarnegora
in retaliation for the explosion of a land mine said to have been
fired by the Republican Army Command in that township.

Irrespective of the responsibility for these actions, they show a
clear contempt for the Security Council's thrice repeated
instructions. The Security Council cannot afford to show itself
powerless in a more or less minor instance of unlawful warfare, if
it is ever to wield the slightest authority in dealing with more
serious breaches of the peace.

The alternatives are to ignore the violations of its instructions
which are in effect made under Article 40, and res[ign] [1] itself
to the impotence of the League Council, or to enforce its
decisions now.

Moreover, as initiator of the Council's action, Australia will
have shown itself incapable of maintaining its standards if this
challenge to the authority of the United Nations does not receive
a strong reply from our representatives.

I suggest that the Australian representative might move that in
view of the continued violation of the ceasefire, [a] Committee be
instructed immediately to draw up plans for enforcement measures
under Article 41 within a specified time.

[Telegram attached.] [2]