Cablegram K186 BATAVIA, 7 November 1948, 3.10 p.m.
IMPORTANT SECRET
My telegram K.184. [1]
Stikker who returned to Batavia yesterday evening, said privately
that the atmosphere had been favourable and he was not without
hope. The rest of his party has remained in Kaliurang, where he
will rejoin them today. Supomo, Chief Legal Adviser of the
Republican Delegation, who is participating in the talks returned
on the same plane. He gave me the following summary of
discussions: Stikker did not raise the question of infiltrations
or incidents save to make the general comment that law and order
must be restored.
(2) He gave the Republicans the Dutch draft bill for an interim
Government in Indonesia (copy was sent to Canberra in the last bag
[2]) and suggested that the Republic outline its objections. He
indicated that the Netherlands is provisionally prepared to make
amendments to meet the Republicans.
(3) The draft bill is most unsatisfactory to the Republicans but
understandings were reached in principle on the following points:-
(a) National Government to be formed immediately.
The Government to be based on a Cabinet system instead of a
directorium. Members to be selected by the Prime Minister of the
Republic and High Commissioner acting jointly. Sole qualifications
for selection to be capacity and popular support.
(b) The interim Government to have de facto authority in internal
matters. The High Commissioner's veto to be restricted to acts
contrary to political agreement or contrary to the Statute of the
Union.
(c) Elections to be held in principle in six months to a
Constituent Assembly, which would also appoint a new interim
Government.
(d) The interim Government to include a Minister of Foreign
Affairs and a Department of Foreign Affairs to be established in
Indonesia. The Foreign Affairs Department to work in conjunction
with the Emissary of the Netherlands jointly.
(e) A date to be fixed for transfer of sovereignty subject to
certain conditions being met. Notwithstanding Dutch arguments
against continuation of the inauguration of discussions within
Good Offices Committee, any agreement reached as a result of
Hatta-[Stikker] [3] talks, to be formalised in Good Offices
Committee, where negotiations would be resumed on the basis of the
Cochran plan.
4. No understanding has yet been reached on the following
matters:-
(a) The Netherlands insist that law and order be re-established
before the elections are held. No discussions have taken place yet
as to who would decide on this.
(b) Details of Union are still to be discussed.
(c) The Netherlands wants the High Commissioner to be Supreme
Commander of all the forces in [4] Indonesia but this was rejected
by the Republic.
(d) The Netherlands are opposed to continuation of the Good
Offices Committee after political settlement but the Republic
insists that it should stay on until transfer of sovereignty
Stikker [5] was busy last night consulting with the High
Commissioner, the Federalists and high authorities in Batavia on
results on his discussions and particularly on issues still
outstanding.
[AA:A1838, 403/3/1/1, xix]