Your telegrams 46 [1] and 47. [2]

I had been asked prior to their receipt to call at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs last evening and was informed of the granting of
the two visas and that-
(a) the Netherlands Government have noted with satisfaction that
it will be the policy of the Australian Government to do
everything in their power to avoid embarrassment to the N.E.I.

Government and are confident that the two officials will be duly
instructed to that effect.

(b) it is understood that until further notice all contact with
the Indonesian Republic will be made through the intermediary of
the appropriate Netherlands authorities, this principle having
already been recognized by other Governments.

(c) journeys into the interior are not to be undertaken without
due and previous authorization by the Netherlands authorities.

(d) the Netherlands Government wish to stress that the mission of
the two Australian officials cannot be interpreted in any way as a
trade mission but simply as an assignment to the Australian
Consulate-General in Batavia.

2. I then asked for the granting of the two additional visas and
stressed the need for their presence in Batavia. Van Vredenburch
at first said it was impossible on the ground that they were not
allowing finance attaches to British and American Consulates-
General. I urged special need for the presence of a Treasury
expert and for Forsyth to consult with Ballard and that Foreign
Office and State Department advisers and officials had paid
similar visits. Van Vredenburch agreed to take the question up. I
shall press him again before the end of the week.

3. I then spoke in the terms of paragraphs 3 and 6 of your
telegram 46 of the importance of immediate and frank discussions.

Van Vredenburch agreed, but said that so long as the
Dutch/Indonesian economic talks are proceeding, lack of personnel
and doubt as to the future position might make progress slow. He
undertook to urge Batavia to co-operate to the utmost.

4. As regards paragraph 5 of your telegram 46 Van Vredenburch
stated that the Dutch proposed to appoint Indonesians to e.g.

Canberra as soon as suitable personnel were available and
arrangements made.