Note C15/4249 CANBERRA, 26 August 1947

The Royal Netherlands Legation presents its compliments and has
the honour to refer to various conversations held with the
Department of External Affairs concerning the continued presence
of Dr. Radin Usman Sastroamidjojo in Australia.

The Legation begs to recall that the mission of Dr. Usman was
strictly confined to a specific purpose with which the
Commonwealth Government is acquainted and that the view of the
Department, at the time, concurred with the opinion expressed by
this Legation that as his mission was considered to be completed
Dr. Usman should be invited to return to Java. [1] A safe conduct
and complete liberty of movement in the Netherlands East Indies
were arranged.

Subsequently the Legation understood that the Department had
modified its views in the sense that no pressure could be applied
to effect the departure of Dr. Usman whose restrained attitude, it
was thought, did not justify such action.

For some weeks past however the activities of Dr. Usman have
assumed a totally different character, e.g. the official
invitations issued by him on behalf of the Republic of Indonesia
to attend a Dinner at the Hotel Windsor, Melbourne, on August 18th
in celebration of the Second Anniversary of the Founding of the
Republic.

This function was attended by Right Rev. W. W. Ingram, Moderator
of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, as well as by Mr. A. E.

Monk, Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Considering the attitude which has been assumed by the Trade
Unions, which have consistently endeavoured to embroil the
relations between Australia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands,
the statement made by Mr. Monk, reported by the Argus on August
19th, hardly causes surprise:

'Mr. A. E. Monk, Secretary of the ACTU, said that the Australian
trade union movement was proud of its efforts on behalf of the
Indonesian Republic. Lately he had had some misgivings about the
results of political freedom. It did not always mean the economic
freedom of the ordinary man. Too often it was followed by a new
struggle between the industrial powers of the independent nations
and the workers.

Mr. Monk said he believed that when the new Indonesian Republic
attained complete independence it would work sincerely for the
betterment of its workers. For that reason the Australian trade
union movement was solidly behind it.'

The Legation realises that little can be done to counteract the
blind and biased prejudices which prevail in certain quarters,
particularly Trade Union circles, with regard to the Indonesian
situation. At the same time the question arises whether Dr. Usman,
in his direct and open association with the forces which manifest
extreme hostility to Netherlands interests in this country, is not
only greatly exceeding the purpose of his mission, but is actually
trespassing on the courtesy and hospitality which have been
extended to him.

The Legation cannot but feel that the attitude assumed by Dr.

Usman and the hostile propaganda in which he indulges are clearly
calculated to undermine the relations between Australia and the
Netherlands by using channels and intermediaries who by their
words and actions have declared themselves open to the severest
criticism.

The Legation therefore cannot but consider that it would be
opportune if the Commonwealth Government were to recommend to Dr.

Usman that he confine himself strictly to the purpose of his
mission if this has not as yet, after three months, been
terminated and that, at any rate, he abstain from political
activities and hostile propaganda.