Delegations were welcomed at Djocjacarta station on Monday evening
by a large boisterous crowd. [1] Although no attempt was made to
control excesses of enthusiasm, with the result that the
delegations were subjected to many inconveniences and delays, the
crowd appeared essentially good-humoured as was confirmed by
Australian and American military observers who remained at the
station until all passengers had left. The Dutch, however, have
complained of insults, threats of violence, blows and spitting. On
instructions from Van Mook, the Netherlands delegation refuses to
remain at Djocja and Kalioerang, which are peaceful, unless a more
satisfactory situation prevails. In the meantime the meetings have
been cancelled.

2. The present crisis will probably be overcome. But this Dutch
exaggeration of small incidents illustrates the difficulties in
the way of a speedy settlement. I cannot avoid the suspicion that
the Dutch are looking to a change of world opinion which would
enable them, if necessary, to make incidents an excuse to settle
the dispute by force. The Australian delegation is pressing for
factual reports by the Committee in conformity with the Security
Council resolutions as the best means of keeping world opinion
properly informed. The other delegations, however, are
unresponsive.

3. We have prepared a draft report on West Java and are seeking
earliest agreement. It is already clear that we will have to
submit a minority report on the Dutch economic blockade of
Republican West Java. [2]

4. This minority report would be on the following lines:

(1) The Australian Representative considers the Security Council
resolution requires the Committee to report on political
developments in the whole of West Java and not only in Netherlands
controlled areas. Additional information based on reports of
Committee's military observers is therefore submitted on the
political conditions in Bantam.

(2) In Bantam political conditions appear to be satisfactory and
improving.

(3) At the same time living standards have deteriorated and this
is accentuated by strict Dutch blockade by sea and across status
quo line.

(4) The consequence is a critical shortage of urgent consumer
goods.

(5) The military observers are of the opinion that the
restrictions on trade, communication and travel might lead to the
development of an isolated state, which would not be in the
interests of progress and might finally prove an embarrassment to
administration by any national government.

(6) An early lifting of these restrictions, which are in direct
violation of Article 6 of the Truce Agreement [3], would therefore
seem most desirable.