Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

MLT (Naval Aide) 37 DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON DECLASSIFIED May 5, 1950 E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 T State By DEB NLT, Date 5-14-85 SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS NEW GUINEA The Australian government has informed our Embassy in Canberra that it cannot agree that the recent Aus- - tralian approach on the disposition of Netherlands New Guinea will preju- dice the solution of this problem nor that it will hurt the standing of Australia and of the western powers in South and Southeast Asia. The Australians still feel that a frank and honest statement of their position at this time was the better course, and point out that neither the Indian nor the Indonesian governments appear upset at their recent action. The Australians also indicated that they are still prepared to consider other solutions, presumably involving some commitment by the US. The Netherlands Ambassador in Washington has presented us with a note stating that the Dutch cabinet has reached the conclusion that western New Guinea should remain under Netherlands authority and requesting our support of this point of view. The Dutch have also reminded the Australians that the agreement for further dis - cussions on the disposition of western New Guinea was actually proposed by the UN Commission on Indonesia, of which Australia was a member, and that the Dutch have committed themselves not to transfer sovereignty over this area to any third power. INDOCHINA Our representatives in London report that the French delegation to the current talks have made it clear more than once that France will not issue any so-called evolutionary statement on Indochina, and they have now refused to discuss the basic position paper on Indochina until after Foreign Minister Schuman discusses the issue with the Secretary. Both Ambassadors Jessup and Bruce feel the French are solely interested in determining the maximum amount of proposed US aid, and even possibly in securing a commitment that the US is responsible for the economic support of Indochina. They do not believe our recent decision on aid will be considered sufficient by the French. s C R E