Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLT (Noval Aide)78 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON August 31, 1950 ToEREr SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS NEW GUINEA In a conversation with Ambassador Chapin at The Hague, Australian Foreign Minister Spender stated "categorically" that Australian public opinion would never per - mit the Indonesian Government to gain control over Netherlands New Guinea either in form of "transfer of sovereignty, joint trusteeship or condominium. 11 Spender added that Australia has such a vital security interest in that territory that it would use all means to keep the area from falling into Asian hands. When Chapin pointed out that the Indonesians had recently made strong statements claiming the territory, and asked whether Spender saw any Treasonable settle- - ment, " Spender replied that: 1) the whole question might come before the United Nations; or 2) the UK, US and India might use their good offices to press the Australian argument on the Indonesians. Spender implied that he was disappointed that the US and UK had not yet made the strong representations which he feels might be effective. EUROPE Ambassador Douglas in London comments that while there is in Europe considerable enthusiasm for the establishment of a European defense force, there is no possi- bility that that the UK would accompany its support for such a force with a movement toward association in a continental political federa- - tion. Douglas believes that it would be a great mistake for the US to try to push the British into such a federation, and he states that US interests can better be served by "preservation of the Commonwealth's association with a strong UK" than by the disintegration of the Common- wealth which would inevitably be the result of participation by the UK in a European federal state. Douglas says, however, that these facts do not indicate that the UK cannot become associated with the common ToPSERE DECLASSIFIED E.O. 13526 Aethority LP-HST 2016-008 #23 NARA so Date 7/16/2019