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Copy No.

C.P. (49) 242

26th November, 1949

CABINET

INDONESIA: ARMS EMBARGO

MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

My colleagues will recall that an embargo on the supply of military equip- ment and training facilities to the Netherlands Government was imposed by His Majesty's Government in accordance with a statement which I made to the Cabinet on 26th June, 1947 (C.M. (47) 57th Conclusions, Minute 2).

2. The embargo was partially raised on 31st August, 1948, in consequence of improved conditions in Indonesia, but when the Dutch undertook their second police action it was tightened up again, as I informed the Cabinet on 22nd December, 1948 (C.M. (48) 82nd Conclusions, Minute 1).

3. Under the terms of the recent agreement reached at The Hague, the Netherlands Government have agreed to withdraw their forces from Indonesia. This withdrawal has already begun.

4. The Netherlands Foreign Minister mentioned the question of the arms embargo to me recently in Paris and I promised to look into it. The Netherlands Embassy in London have also raised the matter. I do not consider it either necessary or desirable that a formal statement should be made to the effect that the embargo has been discontinued, and I would suggest that all that is necessary is a cessation of the practice of asking the Netherlands Government for an assurance that any particular consignment of war materials is not destined for use in Indonesia.

5. I accordingly invite the concurrence of my colleagues in :-

(a) an informal intimation from the Foreign Office to the Netherlands Embassy in London that we propose to terminate the practice of seeking assurances about the destination of arms ordered by the Netherlands authorities; and

(b) arranging with the Netherlands authorities that no publicity will be

given to the raising of the embargo.

Foreign Office, S. W. 1,

26th November, 1949.

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