I have had two discussions with Sir Archibald Nye, who recently
assumed Office as High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in
India, and was formerly Governor of Madras Province. Mr. Gollan
was able to join me during the first visit. Sir William Strang,
recently appointed permanent Head of the United Kingdom Foreign
Office, is also in New Delhi, and he was present during both
discussions but took little part in them as he stated that he was
not familiar with the Indonesian situation or with South East
Asian affairs generally.

2. At first discussion on January 18th, Nye took a somewhat
forthright line regarding the conference and the Indonesian
situation. He claimed that in a fit of impulsiveness, Nehru had
made the announcement that the Conference would take place. He
questioned what value the Conference would have and said that the
United Kingdom had not been informed either through him or
directly. (We later ascertained that the information was conveyed
through the Indian High Commissioner at London.)
3. I made clear our feelings that we could place no faith in the
assurances given by the Dutch and that they would not have
undertaken this expensive police action just to retain power for
one or even two years. Nye discounted the military operation and
the cost involved for the Dutch and added that certain Dutch
actions criticised by the Republicans as atrocities and reprisals
were simply part of legitimate mopping up operations. He hinted
that Australia and other countries had not faced the facts.

4. At the second discussions on January 19th (arranged at his
request) Nye was much milder in tone possibly after consultation
with Strang. He emphasised his desire to help and make available
to us any reports or other information which they had. He read
extracts from several cables the [g]ist of which we had received
in Canberra, especially those covering the High Commissioner's
Conference in London in early January. [1] I pointed out that
apparently the United Kingdom line that no enforcement action
should be taken, was hardly consistent with support of U.N.

[Logical development of this] assumption [w]as [2] that no
proposals should be introduced to the Council which were not in
advance acceptable to the Dutch as their non-acceptance might lead
to pressure for enforcement. In fact this was what was happening
and the United States seemed to have withdrawn the resolution [3]
after the Dutch statement that they would not accept the
provisions. U.N. could not function if the United Kingdom and the
United States of America adopted this attitude. Nye sought to
establish the difference between the action to which Dutch
agreement would be necessary e.g., withdrawal and action which
could be taken independently of the Dutch following a Security
Council decision. He felt that the United Kingdom Government might
well support the latter i.e. some form of sanctions.

5. He also showed me a telegram [4] of protest Bevin sent to the
British Ambassador at The Hague referring to earlier Dutch
assurances that they would not undertake strong measures in return
for a United Kingdom guarantee of 'certain actions'. Nye was
unable to explain what this phrase meant.

6. I said that our information indicated that the Indian High
Commissioner in London had informed the United Kingdom authorities
of the holding of the Conference. Nye disclaimed this, but added
that the United Kingdom authorities had of course no objection to
the Conference being held nor were they annoyed at not being
invited. In fact he felt that such an idea would not have occurred
to them either here in New Delhi or in London.

7. I suggested that it might be very helpful on the eve of the
conference if an official statement were to be made either in New
Delhi or in London on behalf of the United Kingdom Government,
that they welcomed the calling of such a Conference. Nye said that
he would think seriously about it.

8. I then asked him about a statement appearing in the press two
or three days ago by the American Ambassador here, supporting the
Conference. [5] Nye agreed that the Ambassador could almost
certainly have had some authorization from Washington.