My telegram No. 1. [1] The Consular Commission at its third meting
on 5th January agreed, after lengthy discussion, on the text of
its cable to the Security Council explaining its inactivity and
requesting clarification of its position.

2. The French and the Belgian members [2] again argued that the
Commission could not remain inactive and should at least go ahead
with that part of its work for which it had a clear directive from
the Security Council and the Committee had none, namely the
investigation of conditions prevailing in areas under military
occupation. They attacked the Committee for its 'overbearing'
attitude towards the Commission and claimed that the Committee had
no right to use the Military Observers until the clarification
requested from the Security Council had been received. They also
objected to the text of the cable to the Security Council on the
grounds that it appeared merely to voice the opinions of the
Committee and represented the Commission as willing to take a back
seat.

3. The Chinese member [3] quoted Netherlands statements to the
effect that no arrangements could be made for the re-deployment of
the Military Observers until the Commission had stated its plans.

Attempts to secure a clear mandate from the Commission to the
Committee pending further advice from the Security Council and to
authorise the Chairman to tell the Dutch to cease interfering with
the Committee on behalf of the Commission were unsuccessful and
after further discussion it was agreed that the Chairman should
notify Schuurman of the Commission's decision to take no action
pending the ruling from the Security Council on the position of
the two bodies.

4. It is clear from the disposition of the French and Belgium
members and the indecision of the Chinese that should new
directions from the Council enable the Commission to function it
will be to the substantial detriment of the Committee. Alagappan,
the Indian Consul-General, has agreed to advise his Government in
this sense and to recommend that the Commission be allowed to
lapse. He will also recommend that, should it appear likely that
the Commission will function, India should seek membership on the
grounds that its interest in Indonesia is recognised by the
Security Council and it has a career consular representative here.

He will see Tsiang and attempt to induce him to a more favourable
attitude.