The author of the below 2nd May 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 973
PAGE 01 DJAKAR 06444 021246Z

53
ACTION EA 15

INFO EUR 15,CIAE 00,DODE 00,GPM 04,H 02,INR 07,L 03,NSAE 00,NSC 10,P 04,RSC 01,SP 02,SS 20,USIA 12,SAH 03,AID 28,COM 08E 15,FRB 02,TRSY 08,XMB 06,SEAP 03,10 13,RSR 01,/182 W

R 021200Z MAY 68
FM AMEMBASSY DJAKARTA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6075
INFO USUN 157
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY London
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
AMCONSUL MEDAN
AMCONSUL SURABAYA

CONFIDENTIAL DJAKARTA 6444
REF: DJAKARTA 6317
SUBJECT: WEST IRIAN

1. GOI IS BELATEDLY AND ALMOST DESPERATELY SEEKING TO DEVELOP SUPPORT AMONGST PEOPLES OF WEU IRIAN FOR REPUBLIC OF IN- INDONESIA BEFORE "ACT OF FREE CHOICE" SCHEDULED FOR 1969 U MER UN SUPVERISION. FOLLOWING IS WHAT I LEARNED TODAY FROM MALIK ADDITIONAL TO THAT REPORTED REFTEL:

3. PRECEDING THE DEPARTURE MAY 1 OF SIX CABINET MINISTERS AND PARTY ABOARD FOKKER FRIENDSHIP FOR WEEK'S TRIP TO WEST IRIAN, GOI SENT C-130 LOADED WITH SUCH ITEMS AS CLOTHRS, FLASHLIGHTS, OPBACCO, BEAD NECKLACES, TIN GOODS, AND SAGO FOR DISTRIBUTION AMONGST TRIBAL LEADERS OF WEST IRIAFBY MINISTERIAL PARTY.

3. MINISTERIES WILL ALSO INVITE KEY IRIANESE LEADERS TO DJAKARTA AND ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO IS ACCOMPANYING PARTY, WILL GRANT AMNESTY FOR SIX LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN UNDER ARREST ON CHARGES OF REBELLION.

4. MALIK DID NOT SUCCEED IN GETTING CABINET TO APPROVE A REDUCTION IN MILITARY PRESENCE IN WEST IRIAN BUT MINISTERIAL PARTY WILL INVESTIGATE POSSIBIGNTIES FOR CIVIC ACTION PROJECTS OF VISIBLE BENEFIT TO PEOPLE. IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT SOME ABLE YOUNGER OFFICERS FROM FOREIGN AND INTERIOR MINISTERIES WOULD BE SENT SHORTLY TO WEST IRIAN TO UNDERTAKE PROGRAM OF IMPROVING RELATIONS BETWEEN GOI AND TRIBAL LEADERS AND PEOPLES.

5. MALIK HAD SUGGESTED TO INTERIOR MINISTER BASUKI RACHMA THAT HE PROCEED NEXT MONTH TO UN TO CONFER WITH UN STAFF AND KEY DELEGATIONS. MALIK FELT IT IMPORTANT THAT INDONESA PROVIDE ADVANCE BRIEFINGS AND EXPLANATIONS BEFORE ADVANCE PARTY UN TEAM ARRIVES IN WEST IRIAN EARLY AUGUST IN CONNECTION WITH PREPARATIONS FOR "ACT OF FREE CHOICE". SUHARTO TURNED DOWN THIS PROPOSAL ON GROUNDS THAT JOB COULD BE DONE BY INDONESIA'S UN DELEGATE RUSLAN ABDULGANI.

GP-3 GREEN

CONFIDENTIAL

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