INDONESIA

1. I have just seen Lovett and after outlining our views along the
lines of your telegram 1009 [1] asked what the United States
proposed to do,
(a) Pending the meeting of the Security Council and
(b) The limits of the Security Council
(c) Through the Committee of Good Offices.

2. As regards the action which the United States would take
unilaterally, Lovett said that urgent consideration was being
given to the immediate suspension of E.R.P. aid to the N.E.I. (as
distinct from the Netherlands). This would probably be done,
although no announcement could be made until a decision had been
made by E.C.A.

3. Lovett confirmed that instructions had been given Jessup as
reported in our 1288. [2] He said that the United States felt that
the first objective was a cease-fire. It was then important to
obtain facts on which further Security Council action could be
based, in particular, the circumstances surrounding the Dutch
attack, whether the Dutch had given notice to the Republic and the
reasons for the shortening of the ultimatum period. He said that
the United States would act as a member of the United Nations and
regarded its obligations as a member seriously.

4. As regards the Committee of Good Offices, the United States'
view was that it could not continue to play any useful role if it
was not supported by its parent body, the Security Council. The
United States would not wish to continue as a member of an
ineffective body but would prefer to regain its freedom of action
without being subject to the limitation imposed on it as a member
of the Good Offices Committee.