Kuala Lumpur, 17 January 1976
O.KL07586 SECRET PRIORITY
Timor
For Parkinson from Renouf1
Ministers want included in the paper Feakes is preparing for Cabinet a set of guidelines for use in public presentation of our policy.2
- The Prime Minister wants studied in this connexion what may be called ‘a lay it on the line’ approach, that is, Indonesia is not to be deterred, Australia’s relationship with her is very important, there is a limit to what we can do, we have reached the limit, we are not going to achieve anything for the Timorese people by rebuking and obstructing and, on the contrary, we will merely reduce our opportunities for influence.3
[NAA: A11443,[10]]
- 1 Renouf accompanied Fraser and Peacock when they attended the funeral in Kuala Lumpur, on 16 January, of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdul Razak.
- 2 See Editorial Note, pp. 711-12.
- 3 In Cablegram SI10619 (18 January), Renouf informed Parkinson that Fraser had directed that Peacock should be provided, for the purposes of his visit to Indonesia, with an up-to-date assessment of the military progress the Indonesians were making on the ground in East Timor.