As reported in my telegram No. C. 5. [1] the Round Table
Conference opened in The Hague shortly after 2 p.m. on Tuesday
August 23rd. As was to be expected the opening proceedings were
largely of a formal nature and the Conference was inaugurated by
the Prime Minister, Dr. W. Drees, who welcomed the Delegates in a
speech which after briefly rehearsing the history of previous
negotiations, re-affirmed the desire of the Netherlands Government
to carry out its decision to transfer sovereignty to the United
States of Indonesia. This was an irrevocable resolution and did
not rest 'on impulse and sentiment nor on an unwilling
acquiescence in the superiority of circumstances', and although
many in the Netherlands thought that the interests of all
concerned would have been served if a more peaceful and gradual
transition could have proved possible, 'there is no sense in
overlooking the consequences of acceleration and the development
which has set in as an after effect of the war' and the idea of
Indonesia's sovereignty now demanded a speedy realisation. The
Prime Minister also remarked on the need for the participants in
the Conference to realise their responsibility and to avoid
serving local or temporary interests. 'History will pass the final
judgement on this Conference. Each party is exposed to the
temptation to endanger the great goal for the sake of temporary
success and momentary applause from a certain group of supporters.

I hope with all my heart that all delegates will have the strength
to withstand this temptation.'
The leader of the Republican Delegation, Dr. Mohammed Hatta, spoke
in Indonesian and gave a brief exposition of the Indonesian
Republicans' conception of Indonesia's position in relation to the
Netherlands. 'No matter how strong the validity of the argument of
the Netherlands Government that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is
vested with the sovereignty of Indonesia, the Indonesian people
regard and feel their country as being sovereign. They have a
government which is subordinate to no alien government; they have
their own army and their own police to guard law and order from
aggression from within and without; they have their own currency
issued bytheir government, and last but not least they have their
own foreign policy... The Indonesian/Dutch issue is fundamentally
a psychological problem which has its roots in colonial history
and is rendered all the more complicated by the psychological
conflict that has been going on for four years. For this reason
further delay in the transfer of sovereignty, after reaching an
agreement in this respect, will be felt by the Indonesian people
as a political stratagem to continue colonial rule in Indonesia
and will therefore cause the people to be suspicious of the
Netherlands' intentions... The relations between Indonesia and the
Netherlands in the future can only endure if they rest on a firm
foundation of mutual understanding and mutual confidence.' Dr
Hatta referred also to the maintenance of Netherlands economic
interests in Indonesia on the basis of cooperation between the
Netherlands and Indonesian governments. He pointed out that the
Indonesian government's concept called for a policy of economic
welfare for the people. Free Indonesia would no longer be a
'colony of natives as in the past, supplying coolies for low
wages', but would demand 'a living wage and social security for
her labourers in accordance with the situation in civilised
countries', and the principle of freedom from want enunciated by
President Roosevelt. However, a prosperous Indonesian people with
substantial purchasing power would in the long run not be a
detriment to the interests of foreign countries, particularly the
Netherlands. On the contrary it would further their interests.'
The next speaker was the chairman of the B.F.O., Sultan Hamid II
of Pontianak, who also spoke in Indonesian. Hamid stressed the
need for mutual trust and paid a tribute to the improvement
resulting from the assistance given in the negotiations in Java by
UNCI. He referred to the rise in nationalism in Egypt, in India,
and in the Philippines as part of the development in which
Indonesia was bound to participate. He mentioned the agreement at
the inter-Indonesian Conference regarding the future of the
Republic of East Indonesia which would be built up of a number of
equivalent states with their own government and their own
finances. The question of finance was very much in the minds of
the Federalists. There were dangers of a severe inflation and
there would need to be, in addition to the efforts of the
Indonesians themselves to stabilise their economy, an injection of
foreign credits.

Speaking on behalf of the Netherlands delegation, the Minister of
Overseas
Territories, Mr van Maarseveen, stressed that the purpose of the
Netherlands delegation was to make the Conference succeed. 'The
issue of the preliminary Conference in Indonesia has proved that
it is possible for the parties to come to an agreement provided
results of this preliminary conference, the realisation of which
we can see here in part at this moment, are otherwise
conscientiously observed and provided the principles about which
an agreement was reached at Batavia, are adhered to both at the
Conference and outside; provided the Conference intends
furthermore to consider and safeguard in a
reasonable manner the reasonable interest of all parties directly
or indirectly concerned therein; provided that in all possible
differences of opinion, the goodwill of the parties to come to a
just and righteous solution prevails, the reaching of agreement
will be in sight.' The Minister also referred to the present
situation in these terms:

'During the negotiations for the transfer of sovereignty, may
those who shortly are to form a free Indonesia, show to the world
that Indonesia can govern itself in an orderly manner and that the
authority necessary for that order can be produced and exercised
by Indonesia itself.'

At the conclusion of the delegation speeches, the UNCI chairman of
the week, Mr. T.K. Critchley, described briefly the part which the
Commission have taken in bringing the preliminary negotiations to
fruition. 'The United Nations Commission for Indonesia was
intimately associated with the preliminary negotiations held in
Batavia. Its members have come to The Hague to participate
helpfully and actively in the Round Table Conference. Delegations
may be assured that the Commission stands ready to place its
experience and assistance at the disposal of all parties. We
confidently hope our participation will conclude with an early
report to the Security Council of the final success of the
Conference.'
The provisional Agenda and draft rules of procedure for the
Conference were then adopted. On a proposal by Dr. Hatta, seconded
by Sultan Hamid, the Prime Minister, Dr. Drees, was elected
chairman of the Conference and on the proposal of the Minister of
Overseas Territories, the leaders of the three delegations were
elected vice-chairmen. Dr. M.J.K. Prinsen was confirmed in office
as Secretary-General. The President, Dr. Drees, called on each of
the three delegations to nominate three members who would sit with
a representative of UNCI in a committee of 10 and with the
following members this committee met on the following day.

Netherlands Delegation - Mr van Maarseveen
- Mr Stikker
- Dr van Royen
Republican Delegation - Dr Hatta
- Mr Rum
- Mr Pringgodigdo
B.F.O. Delegation - Sultan Hamid II
- Mr Anak Agung Gde Agung
- Mr Suparmo and Dr. A.J. Vleer (Secretary)
UNCI members - Messrs. Cochran, Critchley and Herremans
Five committees have been instituted:-

1) Committee for Political and Constitutional Affairs
2) Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs
3) Committee for Military Affairs
4) Committee for Cultural Affairs
5) Committee for Social Affairs
The committees are to hold their first sessions on Friday morning
at 10 a.m.