The author of the below 4th Aug 1968 Telegram was U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia 1965-1969, Marshall Green. A pdf copy of the original document may be found at the George Washington University's National Security Archive.

Department of State TELEGRAM

CONFIDENTIAL 072
PAGE 01 DJAKAR 08648 040503Z

21
ACTION EA 15

INFO IO 13,NSA 02,CIAE 00,DODE 00,GPM 04,H 02,INR 07,L 03,NSC 10,P 04,RSC 01,SP 02,SS 20,USIA 12,RSR 01,/096 W

R 040445Z AUG 68
FM AMEMBASSY DJAKARTA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7153

CONFIDENTIAL DJAKARTA 8648

SUBJECT: "ACT OF FREE CHOICE" IN WEST IRIAN

REF: USUN A-2054

FOR DEPUTY ASST. SECRETARY GODLEY FROM AMBASSADOR

1. REF AIRGRAM INDICATES THAT ATTITUDE OF ORTIZ SANZ COULD CREATE REAL PROBLEM FOR GOI. AS REPORTED PARA 5 DJAKARTA 8503, GOI IS OF OPINION (PERHAPS MISTAKEN) THAT ORTIZ SANZ NOW HAS GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF POLITICAL REALITIES CONNECTED WITH "ACT OF FREE CHOICE". IF THIS IS NOT THE CASE AND IF VIEWS CONTAINED REF AIRGRAM SHOULD BECOME PUBLICLY KNOWN, IT WOULD BE MOST EMBARRASSING FOR MALIK AND OTHERS IN GOI WHO ARE WORKING TO CARRY OUT 1962 AGREEMENT IN MANNER WHICH IS MEANINGFUL BUT WHICH AT THE SAME TIME WILL ENSURE CONTINUED INDONESIAN CONTROL OF WEST IRIAN.

2. UNLESS SOMEONE IN USUN HAS CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ORTIZ SANZ IT WOULD PROBABLY BE PREFERABLE FOR US TO STAY OUT OF THIS ONE DIRECTLY. HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF HIGH STAKES RIDING ON ORTIZ SANZ'S MISSION AND IMPORTANCE OF HIS GETTING OFF ON RIGHT FOOT, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD DO ANYTHING WE CAN INDIRECTLY TO MAKE HIM AWARE OF POLITICAL REALITIES. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT BEST APPROACH MIGHT BE TO TIP OFF SUDJATMOKO INFORMALLY TO FACT THAT ORTIZ SANZ MAY HAVE SOME MISCONCEPTIONS REGARDING INDONESIA'S INTENTIONS REGARDING 1962 AGREEMENT AND SUGGEST THAT SUDJATMOKO MIGHT WISH TO TALK WITH HIM IN ORDER TO REDUCE CHANCE THAT ORTIZ SANZ MIGHT MAKE UNFORTUNATE STATEMENT EITHER PRIOR TO OR AT TIME OF HIS ARRIVAL IN DJAKARTA WHICH WOULD PUT FAT IN FIRE.

3. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS WHICH YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING ORTIZ SANZ' PRESENT STATE OF MIND.

GP-3 GREEN

CONFIDENTIAL
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