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February 12, 1959In Washington, DC, London, Canberra, and Wellington Indonesia's ambassadors meet with the heads of each country's diplomatic service. In nearly identical letters, Indonesia informs the four countries with interests in the region that they have no intention of engaging any of their military forces in combat. They stress that President Sukarno has full confidence that any territorial disputes that they may have with the four countries can be resolved peacefully and without bloodshed. Yet they are also clear that Indonesia is determined to see their territory and people on West Irian returned to them. And while they regret that the situation has devolved into a military confrontation, they insist that Indonesia is simply exercising their right to self defense, as in their view, the Dutch are an illegal occupying power and that West Irian is rightfully a part of Indonesia.The message falls flat in all four capitols. However it does offer them a fig leaf to hide behind should they decide against aiding the Netherlands militarily. While not much, none of the countries involved has any real desire to fight yet another war in the Pacific so soon after the Second World War and Korean War had ended.
February 12, 1959
In Washington, DC, London, Canberra, and Wellington Indonesia's ambassadors meet with the heads of each country's diplomatic service. In nearly identical letters, Indonesia informs the four countries with interests in the region that they have no intention of engaging any of their military forces in combat. They stress that President Sukarno has full confidence that any territorial disputes that they may have with the four countries can be resolved peacefully and without bloodshed. Yet they are also clear that Indonesia is determined to see their territory and people on West Irian returned to them. And while they regret that the situation has devolved into a military confrontation, they insist that Indonesia is simply exercising their right to self defense, as in their view, the Dutch are an illegal occupying power and that West Irian is rightfully a part of Indonesia.
The message falls flat in all four capitols. However it does offer them a fig leaf to hide behind should they decide against aiding the Netherlands militarily. While not much, none of the countries involved has any real desire to fight yet another war in the Pacific so soon after the Second World War and Korean War had ended.
