We have received long reports from Critchley on the progress of
negotiations. While there has been no major hitch up to date,
progress has been very slow and there is obviously stalling in
Batavia, particularly by Army groups. Many of the problems,
particularly those related to a cease-fire, Critchley thinks can
only be settled by agreement on the 'highest level'. It is to be
expected that there would be a slackening of efforts when the
Assembly ceased. Critchley anticipates that The Hague Conference
might not take place until July or even August which he says would
be most serious from the point of view of Republican support of
the present leaders. This would mean too that negotiations would
still be in progress at The Hague during the next Assembly. We
believe that this might not be entirely accidental as throughout
the Dutch have been careful to arrange a conference at times when
the matter is likely to be raised in the Security Council or in
the Assembly.

2. Please discuss those aspects with the United Kingdom
authorities emphasising to them that the recent progress should
not mislead us into believing that the problem is solved and that
constant pressure on The Hague is necessary by the United Kingdom
Government if a settlement is to be reached.

3. Washington only. Glad if you could make similar informal
approach to United States authorities.