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.