Britain planned to bomb Indonesia, documents say<\/p>\n
SYDNEY (AFP): The Australia government agreed to secret
\nBritish plans to bomb Indonesia in 1964 if Jakarta had moved to
\nstep up attacks on the newly formed Malaysian Federation,
\naccording to newly released documents.<\/p>\n
Cabinet papers for 1964, declassifying after 30 years
\nyesterday, show an entirely different attitude by Canberra
\ntowards Indonesia, with which it now enjoys cordial bilateral
\nlinks extending to friendship between the leaders.<\/p>\n
The British plan was aimed at the destruction of Indonesian
\noffensive air and naval capabilities in the event of a major
\nIndonesian attack on the newly formed neighboring federation.<\/p>\n
It was drawn up in response to President Sukarno's attempt
\nto \"crush Malaysia\" and would have seen up to 170 British,
\nAustralian and New Zealand aircraft bombing Indonesia's recently
\nacquired Soviet jet fighters and bombers.<\/p>\n
The plan was one of several contingency documents to produce
\na graduated response to the Indonesian policy of military
\n\"konfrontasi\" designed to destroy the new Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Malaysia was then subject to escalating Indonesian
\nconfrontation which involved cross border raids into Sarawak.<\/p>\n
Britain would have carried most of the action, flying its
\naircraft from land bases and its four aircraft carriers.<\/p>\n
However, Australia could have contributed eight Canberra
\nbombers and 28 Sabre fighters, all based at Butterworth,
\nMalaysia. New Zealand would have contributed six Canberras.<\/p>\n
Darwin was envisaged for use by Australian or British
\naircraft to strike at the more remote Indonesian airfields.<\/p>\n
The documents also indicate that Canberra had anticipated
\nretaliation by Indonesia, with air raids or low level commando
\nincursions against the Australian mainland, specifically Darwin.<\/p>\n
\"In the event of RAAF aircraft in Malaya being used in an
\noffensive role and of Darwin being used to mount air strikes
\nagainst Indonesia, there will be the possibility of air attacks
\nagainst Darwin port and airfield or of small sabotage raids,\" the
\ncabinet defense committee submission said.<\/p>\n
Canberra endorsed the plan though the cabinet documents show
\nthere were reservations, with cabinet most concerned that there
\nshould be adequate consultation before any plan was launched.<\/p>\n
The defense committee also had an eye to the potential for
\nunintended and drastic consequences.<\/p>\n
Commenting on an early plan titled Hemley, the committee
\nsaid it was possible a limited war would result in Indonesia
\nfragmenting into separate states.<\/p>\n
\"An early detailed examination should be made therefore of
\nthe likely effects of the implementation of Plan Hemley on
\nAustralia's future relations with Indonesia as, from the
\nAustralian viewpoint, it is highly desirable that the Republic of
\nIndonesia remain a viable entity,\" it said.<\/p>\n
However, despite Indonesia's aggression against Malaysia,
\nthe Department of External Affairs believed Indonesian's
\nambitions were limited and that the major threat to regional
\nsecurity came from communist China and North Vietnam.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/britain-planned-to-bomb-indonesia-documents-say-1447893297",
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