As briefly described in my telegram No.186 [1] of yesterday the
second and final Plenary Session of the Round Table Conference
took place in the Ridderzaal or Knights' Hall of the Parliament
buildings in The Hague on 2nd November. The meeting, which was
presided over by the Netherlands Prime Minister, Dr. Drees, began
at 2.20 p.m. and ended at 5.20 p.m. Notwithstanding the relatively
short and simple agenda, the meeting was considerably protracted
by the reading of translations into Indonesian and English of the
various speakers' remarks and it was only by waiving a number of
translations by general agreement towards the end of the meeting
that it was possible to conclude it at the time mentioned.

2. The core of the ceremony was the signing of the covering
resolution [2] introducing the various documents agreed upon at
the Conference. The text of these agreements, while accepted in
principle by all parties, are still to be subjected to a scrutiny
by a drafting sub-committee, composed of two members of each
delegation, set up by the steering committee for the purpose of
unifying phraseology and co-ordinating translations. It is
noteworthy that in cases where interpretation of the Dutch and
Indonesian texts may diverge, the English version shall be
decisive. On completion of the drafting sub-committee's work the
leaders of the various delegations will exchange letters
certifying the final texts.

3. The text of the covering Resolution was conveyed in telegram
No. C.35 of 1st November. The text attached to this memorandum as
document GS1228/RTC with appendices, omits paragraph 6 referring
to the observation to be carried out by U.N.C.I. or a successor
body, of the implementation of the various agreements in Indonesia
after the transfer of sovereignty. Owing to the heavy pressure on
the Commission secretariat over the last few days completely
coordinated texts are not available but the papers forwarded
herewith cover the following draft agreements [3]:-

a) Charter of the transfer of sovereignty including article on
residency of New Guinea.

b) Draft Agreement on transitional measures.

c) Draft Agreement concerning the assignment of citizens.

d) Exchange of letters on the status of High Commissioners.

e) Draft Union Statute.

f) Draft Agreement on co-operation in the field of foreign
relations..

g) Exchange of letters on nationality rights to civil procedure
and protection of the law.

h) Financial and economic Agreements.

i) Draft Agreement 'for the effectuation of articles 2 and 21 of
the Union-Statute'. (Committee for Military Affairs.)
4. A translation of the Constitution of the R.I.S. (Republik
Indonesia Serikat) will be forwarded as soon as it becomes
available. A following memorandum [4] will summarise the remarks
made by the various speakers at the Conference.

5. The business of the meeting proceeded smoothly and brought no
surprises. The chairman read out a letter which he had received
from Mr. P. Blauw, leader of the Netherlands Minorities in
Indonesia, stating that the representatives of his group had
decided not to be present at the final Plenary Session on the
grounds that they could not at this stage influence the course of
events and did not wish to give the impression by their presence
that they assented to the agreements reached. The chairman pointed
out briefly that the views of this group had been thoroughly
considered in committee and that while he regretted the absence of
its representatives, he felt that their viewpoint had received all
the attention it deserved.