My Savingram K.1. [1]

The National Preparatory Committee was established on November
26th with sixteen Republican and sixteen B.F.O. members under Rum
as Chairman and Anak Agung Deputy Chairman. Members then returned
to their territories to attend R.T.C. ratification proceedings.

The Committee assembled again yesterday morning and set up
Committees for
(a) administration
(b) security, and
(c) procedure.

(a) will make all arrangements for R.I.S. to take over the
administration of Indonesia, (b) will deal with military affairs
and security arrangements, and (c) will arrange for the
appointment of the Government and Parliament. A special Sub-
Committee for public information was also set up. All these
Committees are led by Republicans. The Preparatory Committee
further made the Sultan of Djokjakarta responsible to it for all
security matters and appointed a contact committee to meet the
Dutch. This is led by Rum with Anak Agung as deputy and is
composed of the Chairman and vice Chairman of the three committees
and Simatupang.

2. The Contact Committee met the Committee of eight under s'Jacob
yesterday afternoon (the Committee of eight from the Pre-Federal
Government). The Dutch likewise appointed security and
administrative committees and the Chairman met to plan their work.

U.N.C.I. attended and will participate in talks on the same basis
as at The Hague.

3. B.F.O. nominations are still awaited for appointment of
Indonesian officers to Departments but Senior Republicans moved
into Economic Affairs and Information during the week. Talks also
began in the Security Committee on Tuesday and good progress has
been made in arrangements concerning police and the hand over to
the T.N.I. in the main towns. In Batavia six battalions of T.N.I.

will start moving in on December 15th. The most urgent matter yet
to be settled is the supply by the Dutch of arms and ammunition.

The Republicans have also submitted a working paper on Dutch troop
concentrations and the supply of military equipment to the T.N.I.

in the field. The Dutch have not yet commented. Simatupang reports
relations to be co-operative with both the K.L. and K.N.I.L. and
he is hopeful that the arrival today of the Defence Minister,
Foekema Andreae, will expedite supplies.

4. Minister Stikker and Van Schaik arrived on Tuesday and left
today December 3rd. They seemed mainly concerned to impress the
Indonesians with the necessity of maintaining law and order and to
seek assurances regarding the position of Dutch civil servants.

The Republican press release after their visit to Sukarno stressed
an atmosphere of mutual confidence and the necessity to co-operate
among all the people living in Indonesia. Sukarno will shortly
broadcast on this theme.

5. Six territories have now ratified the Dutch agreement: Mid and
East Java, East and West Borneo, East Indonesia and East Sumatra.

No difficulties are anticipated in other territories. Negara
relations with the Republic appear to be improving. Mid and East
Java have both expressed support, the former demanding that it be
returned to the Republic. Hatta's enthusiastic reception
throughout his Sumatra trip last week is also believed to have
disabused Mansur and Malik of any non co-operative notions.

[Hamid] [2] is rapidly losing all support in the B.F.O. and on his
return home representatives requested him not to accept any
position in the R.I.S. but to devote all his energy to Pontianak.

6. In Pasundan the situation is deteriorating. Briefly there are
four main anti-
republican groups:

(1) small feudal group under the Wali Negara; this is mainly a
family affair, but involves also some native troops, politicians
and Negara officials;

(2) Darul Islam; Natsir's attempt to win this movement has failed;

(3) Parki, a new political party deriving from a pre-war society
for promoting
Sundanese culture; and
(4) Armed bands brigade Tjitarem and Banbu Runtjing, variously
reported to be Tanmal Darul Islam, or plain bandits.

The situation is complicated by the activities of Westerling who
has close relations with all four groups. He is reported to have
ample funds and to be using them inter alia for the organization
of vigilante groups for the 'people's protection', his recruits
including K.N.I.L. deserters. These brigades have recently gained
a dangerous coherence, with an understanding between Wali Negara
and Darul Islam for the establishment of an anti-Islamic state of
Sunda. Republic efforts to set up a mass organisation have always
been suppressed and consequently there is no movement [of]
authority sufficient to afford stability to the situation. In
Parliament the Republicans can count about 35% support, the
remaining members changing loyalties almost daily. Outside
Parliament frustrated Republicans compile lists and plan coups.

The situation is quite hysterical and
Republicans are forced to work with the utmost caution. Outside
Bandung regency the situation is healthier with a well-organized
republican movement, and the issue clear between T.N.I. and Darul
Islam and groups in (4) above. T.N.I. will commence operations as
soon as transport, arms and ammunition are received from the
Dutch.

7. Reference paragraph 9 of my savingram K1 [2], the other 'non-
participating territories' are Sabang Island, off Atjeh, and the
Sultanate of Kotawaringin in East Borneo.