Cablegram 276 BATAVIA, 29 November 1946, 9.05 p.m.
IMMEDIATE SECRET
The Secretary of the Indonesian Department of External Affairs and one of his colleagues called this morning and entered into a discussion primarily of the foreign relations of the Republic if the agreement goes through. They came spontaneously and spoke on departmental level. They seemed rather to be thinking aloud and in search of ideas.
2. It is quite apparent that the Republic wants to exchange agents of some sort with other countries in the near future (they spoke of overseas trade representation at least with Australia) but that they are not clear as to how or how far they can do this when recognised by the agreement as a de facto authority only.
3. The Dutch propose the setting up in about three months time of an interim Government of the United States of Indonesia but the Republic will probably not agree to this. In any event they seem to contemplate Republic representation of some kind even after the U.S.I. is established.
4. In particular they are quite clear that a foreign representative received by the Netherlands Government would not, without their assent, be in a position inter alia to protect his Nationals in their territory.
5. The whole matter has not yet been considered by Cabinet. They would be very receptive of any ideas you wish to have transmitted at the proper time. Have you any instructions?
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[AA:A1838/2, 403/3/1/1, iiiA]