Departmental Dispatch 13 OTTAWA, 8 March 1949

CONFIDENTIAL

INDONESIA

I refer to your telegram No. 56 [1] (No. 44 to London, repeated to
New York as No. 127) of 4th March, 1949, on the above subject and
to my reply No. 74 [2] of 5th March, 1949.

2. My latest telegram will have explained to you the position up
to the time of my discussions with Mr. Escott Reid, the Acting
Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs. The only additional
information since then arose from a conversation between Mr.

Holmes, Head of the United Nations Division, Department of
External Affairs, and my Official Secretary. A memorandum [3]
covering this conversation is attached hereto.

3. The information gained by Mr. Cochran during his visit to The
Hague was, no doubt, made known to you at the same time as it came
to the notice of Mr. Hume Wrong in Washington. The lack of further
developments in respect of Mr. Beel's resignation may itself be
significant and the somewhat disingenuous attitude of the
Netherlands Government in the last few weeks raises at least a
slight possibility that the incident was 'staged' in order to gain
further time. Naturally, I am not in a position to comment further
on this possibility which will, no doubt, have been adequately
covered by communications from The Hague.

4. It appears relatively certain that at some stage or other, it
will be necessary to follow up the matter further with the
Canadian Government. With this in view, I should be grateful if
you would give early consideration (and advise me by cable as soon
as possible) to the fact that in some circumstances it may be
advisable to co-ordinate action here with the Indian High
Commissioner. [4] It is probable that you will wish to maintain
complete freedom of action in most circumstances and to make any
representations necessary as an entirely separate entity. For
example, it does not appear likely that an occasion will arise
requiring joint presentation of views by the Indian High
Commissioner and myself.

5. Nevertheless, I should like to be in a position where, if
circumstances should require it, I can at least keep the Indian
High Commissioner advised of some of the action to be taken by
myself and to request similar information from him.

6. The circumstances in which such co-ordination might or might
not be advisable are not likely to be known in Ottawa. I should,
therefore, be glad if you would include, in any future telegrams
on this subject requiring action by me, a direction on this point.

7. You may, of course, rest assured that no information will be
conveyed to the Indian High Commissioner and no co-ordination of
representations attempted, unless the matter is specifically
mentioned in your telegrams. I do, however, feel that the subject
is one which might be given consideration.