Cablegram K201 BATAVIA, 4 December 1948, 3.45 p.m.
Reference my telegram K.200. [1]
Hatta in a letter delivered to Sassen last night points out that
the misunderstanding at Kaliurang must have arisen because of his
reference to the fact that many people and many of the political
parties especially the P.N.I. consider that he went too far in his
aide-memoire. Hatta re-affirms that he adheres to its terms and
offers to come to Batavia for further informal talks with the
Minister on the basis of the aide-memoire.
Agreeing that the interim Federal Government should be formed
without delay he considers that informal discussions should be
completed by December 15th finally followed by a formal agreement
under the auspices of the G.O.C. on the basis of the Cochran plan.
[2] Hatta also expressed the wish to receive the Netherlands
reaction to his draft of the joint communique on the truce. [3]
2. I understand that if informal negotiations were resumed Hatta,
while accepting the Netherlands Sovereignty in the interim period,
would argue that there should be a protocol or at the outside a
gentleman's agreement that high representatives of the crown would
not exercise that Sovereignty to use the Netherlands forces
against the Indonesians in opposition to the Interim Federal
Government.
3. Cochran reports Stikker was pleased with the letter but that
Sassen's reactions were unfavourable. The Dutch Ministers met last
night to discuss the letter and the results of the meeting were
reported to Cochran at 5 a.m. this morning (December 4th). Cochran
and Darmasetiawan left almost immediately for Djokjakarta. Details
are not known but Hatta's offer has not yet been accepted and the
Ministers [there]for[e] [4] have arranged to leave [for] The Hague
tomorrow morning. Cochran's trip to Djokjakarta may indicate
further Netherlands demands for clarification or commitments from
Hatta.
Netherlands are only prepared to settle with the Republic on the
basis of the latter's complete capitulation. The Republican
leaders are agreed that any further concessions would be
dishonourable.
[5.] Unless there is the greatest outside pressure we may
therefore expect
A. Formation of an interim Federal Government without the
Republic.
B. Intensification of the Netherlands campaign against the
Republican truce violations and incidents.
C. Intensification of Netherlands charges that the Republic is
either incapable or unwilling to come to an agreement.
[6.] Military observers in central Sumatra report, for the period
sixteenth to twenty-third of November, an increase of Dutch
Military activities which may indicate preparations for military
action and that the Republicans are increasingly apprehensive.
[7.] I have learnt from a reliable Republican source who is in
constant touch with the Federalists that the Prime Ministers of
East Indonesia and Pasundan have told the Dutch that they will
resign in the event of a police action.
[8.] Nehru has sent a most strongly worded telegram to the United
Kingdom Minister for Commonwealth Relations expressing his view
that the Republic has already made all the concessions that could
in conscience be expected and that anything further would be a
capitulation. The telegram also stated clearly that resumption of
military action by the Dutch would give rise to most serious
repercussions in India, irrespective of whether the Republic
survives. In view of this Nehru asked that the utmost pressure be
exerted on Washington and The Hague to achieve a settlement in
Indonesia. I also understand that India has informed both the
United States and the United Kingdom that asylum would be offered
a Republican Emigre Government if the worst happens. You will have
already learnt of Nehru's invitation to Sukarno.
[9.] Republican change of policy regarding the [E.C.A.F.E.] [5]
reflects these latest developments.
[AA:A1838, 403/3/1/1, xix]
1 Document 346.
2 See Documents 237 and 238.
3 See note 5 to Document 341.
4 The text in square brackets in this sentence has been inserted
with reference to a copy on file AA:A4357/2, 48/254, v.
5 A sign here indicates 'mutilated'. The word 'E.C.A.F.E.' has
been inserted by hand above the word 'emigree' on the cited copy.
