Political Committee on Friday discussed Republican foreign
relations [1] and particularly the Moscow Report of the
establishment of relations with the Soviet Union which has
obviously taken Hatta and Republican Government by surprise.

2. Dutch have a document signed by Sukarno at the direction of
Sjarifuddin when he was Prime Minister authorising Suripno to
establish relations with East European countries.

3. Vredenburch pressed Republican Delegation for a categorical
statement as to whether Suripno was in fact empowered to negotiate
reported agreement, so he could report to The Hague by Saturday
evening. Vredenburch said that The Hague regarded the matter most
seriously and that if there was such an authority it would
seriously prejudice the atmosphere of the talks.

4. Roem was unable to give a direct answer which he promised as
soon as possible. He referred to Hadji Salim's evasive press
statement wherein Salim says that 'no Republican representative
has been authorized to conclude such an agreement' and that
Suripno 'had no authority to sign any agreement' and at the same
time says that 'the position of Suripno is not clear to him' and
that at one stage Sjarifuddin as Prime Minister had dealt with
foreign affairs through his Secretariat and not through the
Foreign Office. [2]

5. Republican Cabinet discussed the position Friday evening and
agreed to issue statement that-
(a) It knows nothing officially of Moscow report which may be
unilateral recognition of Republic by Russia.

(b) That if any negotiations have been conducted it has been under
an old authority to establish relations with East European
countries given by Sjarifuddin in December before the Renville
agreement and at a time when the Republic was threatened by
Netherlands military action.

(c) Suripno will be recalled for clarification.

(d) Meantime the Republic's foreign policy will be to undertake no
expansion of foreign relations at present. [3]

6. In addition informal assurances will be given to the
Netherlands and the Americans that there will be no exchange of
consular representatives with Russia.

7. It is hoped these statements and assurances will satisfy
Americans who express great concern about reactions in America and
likelihood that American pressure on Dutch for agreement will be
affected.