Wednesday morning Dubois received a personal letter from Van Mook
expressing concern at rumours that the Committee was considering
offering suggestions to the parties. [1] The letter stated that
Republican fears of further military action were groundless as the
Dutch forces were being reduced and urged Dubois to avoid any
action by the Committee at this delicate stage of negotiations.

This letter has reinforced the view of the Americans and ourselves
that the Dutch are manoeuvring to by-pass the Committee.

2. That evening the Committee met formally to consider the overall
plan for a political settlement referred to in my K. 129.

Herremans maintained his position that no suggestions should be
made until completion of the talks between Hatta and Van Mook and
opposed the substance of the plan principally on the ground that
it does not sufficiently provide for the exercise of Dutch
sovereignty in the interim period. After protracted discussions it
became evident that there was no possibility of reaching agreement
and Dubois and I announced our intention of submitting the plan to
the parties in the form of a working paper of our two delegations.

Herremans reserved his position.

3. Dubois will go to Batavia tomorrow to see Van Mook regarding
the latter's personal letter to him and will at the same time
deliver the working paper to Van Mook with a covering letter
stressing the provisional and informal nature of the plan but
reserving our right to include the working paper in a report to
the Security Council if it becomes evident that the parties cannot
reach an agreement on this or any other basis. I shall hand
another copy with a similar covering letter to Hatta.

4. The Committee has replied to Van Mook's letter (para 3 of my K.

127 [2]) that it feels under obligation to take appropriate steps
to assist the parties, and is now considering further ways of
doing this.