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