Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Joseph M. A. H. Luns, and Homer Byington

Mr. Kitchen 532 UNITED STATES DELEGATION TO SECURITY INFORMATION SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY October 31, 1952 (Typed Nov. 3, 1952) MEMOR ANDUM OF CONVERSATION 341 SUBJECT: Western New Guinea corfer 2351 PARTICIPANTS: Foreign Minister Iuns, Netherlands Delegation The Secretary of State Homer M. Byington, Jr. COPIES TO: U. S. Delegation, 7th GA Department Mr. Taylor Distribution to be Mr. Popper determined by s/s. Mr. Ross Secretary-General Homer M. Byington, Jr. Reference At the close of his conversation concerning Korea, the EDC, and Tunisia, Mr. Luns said there was one thing more of particular interest to the Netherlands which he desired to raise with the Secretary; that was the question of Western New Guinea. Mr. Luns handed to the Secretary the attached statement of the Netherlands Government on that subject. He emphasized that. the statement was the result of the most careful consideration by his Government and he hoped the Secretary would support the Dutch position. He pointed out that last year the Dutch in their negotiations with the Indonesians had explored every possible approach in a strenuous effort to reach agreement with Indonesia. It had become abso lutely clear, however, that the Indonesions in discussing Western New Guinea were only prepared to talk with regard to the modality of how Western New Guinea was to be turned over to Indonesia. The Netherlands Government was not prepared then and would not be prepared at any time in the future to negotiate on such a. basis. Not only was the population of Western New Guinea completely different to that of Indonesia but also the future economic and political develop- ment of the area could only be furthered through assurance of continuing Dutch interest and support. Mr. Luns, therefore, urged the Secretary that the U.S. oppose at this time any further proposals in favor of renewing negotiations between the Netherlands and Indonesia with regard to Western New Guinea. It was Yr. Luns conviction that negotiations with Indonesia would only worsen the situation rather than help it. The Secretary said that the policy of the U.S. would be to continue to maintain that this question was one that concerned the Netherlands and Indonesia and it was not the policy of the United States to interfere in it. DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Attachment Dept. of State letter, 102.9.1973 10.267 By NLT- HC NARS Date 11.29.26 SECURITY INFORMATION