1. As reported by Officer [1], Members of the Committee met the
Netherlands Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers while we were
passing through Amsterdam. The Prime Minister stated that the
Opposition were planning to ask a series of questions in the
nature of a censure motion on 3rd February. It would be alleged
that the Committee, by its statement in paragraph 2 of
(S/AC10/CONF 2/13), had recognised the right of the Republicans to
continue inter alia their foreign representation. The Government
had assured the Opposition that they would enter into no
commitment beyond the eighteen agreed political principles. He
said that unless a clarifying statement were made by the
Committee, which he could use in Parliament, to the effect that
the Committee had not made any pronouncement regarding the
Republic's status, his Government might fall. I was satisfied from
the tenor of our conversations that the fears of the Cabinet
regarding their position were genuine, and this was confirmed
later by officer as was also the fact that a new Government would
be intransigent.

2. Van Zeeland and Graham made it clear that they would make a
statement of their own responsibility if I would not join them. I
therefore agreed with my colleagues that the Committee should
draft in New York a statement which the Netherlands Government
could use provided this statement did not refer specifically to
foreign representation and simply made it clear that nothing the
Committee had said could or was intended to change the position of
the parties.

3. Our first work after our arrival in New York was to prepare the
statement (summary in immediately preceding telegram) [3] which
Van Kleffens considers will be useful to his Government, although
it does not in any way affect the political principles or
prejudice the position of the Republic.

4. If you consider it advisable, you might let Critchley know this
background so that he can be in a position to explain the
circumstances discreetly to the Republic authorities.

5. The Committee should complete the report about Friday, after
return of Graham who leaves for Washington today. This morning we
made formal calls on acting Secretary General and President of the
Security Council. McNaughton will probably call meeting of Council
on Indonesian question later next week after members have had
opportunity to study the report.