INDONESIA

Reviewing my earlier telegram [1] from Delhi my views are as
follows.

1. The Dutch have clearly failed to carry out the Security
Council's decision. The Commission will no doubt report this with
appropriate comment. Your own comment that there has been 'an
inexcusable delay' is true.

2. Then comes your statement indicating necessity of
reconstituting Government of Republic of Indonesia as a condition
precedent to its representative at Conference having any authority
whatever. These points seem sound and [un]answerable.

3. If and when conference between parties is held it should be
completely within framework of United Nations and under
jurisdiction of Commission of Security Council not of the Dutch.

4. Cochran, United States Representative, himself does not act for
Commission. I feel that Cochran's visit to The Hague was ill-timed
and has tended to cause 'inexcusable delay'.

5. If a Conference is to be held its framework organisation and
control are more important than its location. There are solid
disadvantages to Batavia but these apply also to The Hague. The
obvious place for the Conference seems to be either Lake Success
or Geneva. Preferable former.

6. I agree that while what I have said above should be the view
taken diplomatic care should have to be exercised by Australian
representative in New York. Above all, we must stand for principal
of solid acceptance of United Nations decisions not only by its
members but its own organisations. Moreover weakness and
vacillation at this crucial stage may be dangerous to United
Nations authority and prestige.

7. So far as I know some of the leaders of the Republic have not
even as yet been released. There is much to indicate a deliberate
policy by the Dutch of playing for time.

8. Critchley's assessment of the situation has been borne out and
should be accepted.

9. Prime Ministers India and Pakistan [2] both take the view
indicated herein which stands for United Nations decision and is
not animated by hostility to Dutch.

10. These points should be impressed on Hood, Forde and Norwegian
[3] and above all United States [4] Representatives. I am of
course discussing the matter fully with Beasley here.