Further to my telegram K1 [1], I am glad to report that at
Saturday's meeting I succeeded in having Committee give very
favourable consideration to Republican requests in the memorandum
which we advised Republic to present. Critchley did excellent work
on Sub-Committee which advised Committee on this matter.

2. Main parts of Committee's letter to Dutch dated Saturday are
repeated in next paragraph. Requests in paragraph [9] of
memorandum [2] were:

(1) measures to provide an equitable distribution of food and
commodities throughout the areas in which the de facto authority
of the Republic was recognised by the Netherlands before their
military action of July 21st;

(2) measures to relieve the interruption of the economic relations
and of the communications of the Republic, imposed by force by the
Netherlands.

In addition Republic asked that the memorandum be 'brought to the
attention of Security Council at the first opportunity'.

3. 'The good offices of the Committee have been sought by the
Government of the Republic of Indonesia with regard to three
specific requests that are contained in paragraph 9 of S/AC.10/46.

[3] The Committee, at its twenty-ninth meeting held on 29th
November 1947, decided to convey to you, and through you to the
Government of the Netherlands East Indies, its suggestions with
regard to those requests. The Committee has asked me to draw your
urgent attention to them. I have been further requested by the
Committee to express its wish that the authorities of the
Netherlands East Indies give their favourable consideration to
them.

With reference to the request of the Government of the Republic of
Indonesia contained in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 9 of the
memorandum, the Committee suggests that measures be initiated to
secure an equitable distribution of food and commodities available
in Java, Madura and Sumatra, particularly wherever shortages exist
causing distress to the populations of those areas. In this
connection, the Committee hopes that equitable allocations will be
made to all distressed areas of foodstuffs and other commodities
that may from time to time be allocated to Indonesia through
recommendations of international agencies. In the opinion of the
Committee, it would be particularly valuable for the authorities
concerned to seek and obtain the cooperation of international
agencies such as the International Emergency Food Council, the
Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East and the
International Red Cross in the distribution of such supplies. The
Committee is making this suggestion on its conviction that this
request of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia is based
entirely on humanitarian grounds.

With reference to the request contained in sub-paragraph (2) of
paragraph 9 of S/AC.10/46, it is the considered view of the
Committee that the early resumption of normal commercial and
economic contacts and communications between the territory of the
Republic of Indonesia and outside areas will make a signal
contribution to the restoration of peace and the pacific
settlement of the present dispute, and that this would be in
keeping with the earnest desire of both the parties to achieve as
rapidly as possible such a settlement. Facilities for such
resumption of contacts would, in the opinion of the Committee,
also materially help the implementation of both the letter and the
spirit of the Security Council's Resolution on the Indonesian
question. In this connection, the Committee would suggest to you
and the authorities of the Netherlands East Indies to consider
carrying out the intent of the commercial agreement that exists
between the Governments of the Netherlands East Indies and the
Republic of Indonesia with regard to the distribution of certain
goods and materials at present in Australia [4], which agreement,
the Committee understands, has not been fully implemented due to
circumstances arising after the agreement was entered into. The
Committee is convinced that if this agreement were put into effect
immediately, it would materially advance the prospects of an early
and satisfactory settlement between the parties. It is also the
Committee's conviction that early distribution of such material
would greatly alleviate distress in the deficit areas of Java,
Madura and Sumatra, inasmuch as food and commodities could be
quickly moved and distributed.

With reference to the third request contained in paragraph 9 of
the memorandum, the Committee is of the view that it would be best
for it to refrain from reporting to the Security Council on the
substantive matters that have been raised in the memorandum until
it has had an opportunity to await and consider your reply to this
letter. The Committee hopes to report in the near future to the
Security Council about the progress of its efforts towards the
settlement of the present dispute. The Committee would greatly
appreciate your cooperation in replying to this letter at an early
date so that the Committee may be in the happy position of being
able to report progress in this regard.'

4. In the letter the Committee asked the Dutch to direct 'urgent
attention' to its requests and expressed its wish 'that the
authorities of the NEI give their favourable consideration to
them'.

5. In view of the 'no publicity' provision in the Clause 3 of the
NEI-Republic agreement of 24 May 47 [5] we relied on Evatt's press
statement of 26 May 47 [6] as the source of our information about
the agreement.

6. The information in this telegram is secret at present but I
will keep you informed. I assured Committee privately that goods
could be despatched from Australia as soon as shipping space
becomes available if the agreement were renewed.