Cablegram 334 BATAVIA, 29 September 1947
SECRET
E.20.
Interrogation of Republican [1] and Dutch [2] senior officials now completed and consular mission compiling joint report which should be completed by October 3rd. Belgian Consul-General at this morning’s meeting stated he ad received cable from his Government that joint report NOT urgently required by Security Council. This is having no effect on completion of work.
2. Schuurman informs me Officer at Hague being consulted regarding liaison officers and at present no decision in Batavia.
3. Tomorrow’s meeting will raise question of future employment of observer officers. Chinese officers now in field, American officers have NOT arrived. Joint military report being drawn up by sub-committee of observers of which Dyke is Australian member.
4. Spence still sick and am arranging his return to Australia with full information available probably Wednesday by aircraft via Singapore unless favourable decision received re liaison officers when own aircraft will be used for Moore to Djokjakarta and Spence and Republican liaison officer onward to Darwin.
5. For general information, Spoor on interrogation stated mopping up operations within Van Mook line will now be intensified with hope that law and order can be restored within 2 months. He, at present, has no suggestion regarding any method of avoiding casualties on both sides in the immediate future.
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1 See Document 351, note 2.
2 A record of the Consular Commission’s meeting with officials of the NEI Government (including Spoor and Van Hoogstraten) on 29 September is given in United Nations, Security Council Official Records, Second Year, Special Supplement No.4, pp.90-129.
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[AA:A4355/2, 7/1/7/3]