Indonesian dialog, 50 years ago

In 1949, a sequence of monumental episodes occurred. It began with the emergence of the Resolution of the UN Security Council of Jan. 28, which signaled a turning point in the world body's attitude toward Indonesia. The resolution called upon the Netherlands to return the leaders of the Republic of Indonesia, detained in Bangka, to Yogyakarta. It endorsed the transfer of sovereignty over Indonesia by the Netherlands to take place at the earliest possible date, and no later than July 1, 1950.

Then the Conference of Indonesia sponsored by Jawaharlal Nehru was held in New Delhi on Jan. 20 and Jan. 22, participated in by 15 countries, including Australia. A resolution was passed, recommending to the UN Security Council that the Republican Government be restored, and that power of Indonesia be transferred by Jan. 1, 1950. It is significant in that the resolution made mention of the transfer of power, meaning authority.

A remarkable political development ensued in the U.S. Senate, where support for Indonesia's cause for independence grew stronger, manifesting in the Resolution of Feb. 7, 1949. The resolution called for stopping all economic cooperation aid (under ECA) to the Netherlands. A compromise amendment on April 2 was introduced. The Brewster Amendment then gained support from Democrat senators.

The reversal of the American position was apparent in the more active role asserted by its representative, Merle H. Cochran, in the Committee of Good Offices (which by the Security Council Resolution of Jan. 28 was transformed into the UN Commission for Indonesia, acting as the Security Council representative in the Indonesian dispute).

Cochran's role was instrumental in the realization of the well-known Room-Van Royen Agreement of May 7, 1949 on the return of the Indonesian government to Yogyakarta. On July 6, president Sukarno, vice president Moh. Hatta and the other Republican leaders returned to Yogyakarta from Bangka.

A tremendously important episode followed, which manifested in the convening of the first Inter-Indonesian Conference in Yogyakarta on July 19, 1949 and July 22, 1949 between the delegation of RI and that of the Federal Consultative Assembly. The second Inter-Indonesian Conference followed in Jakarta on July 31 and Aug. 2.

The conference provided for the framework to solve fundamental questions in the political, administrative, economic and financial sectors in anticipation of the transfer of sovereignty from the Netherlands. In the dissertation of Anak Agung Gde Agung on the Renville Agreement (Jan. 17, 1948) the above Inter- Indonesian conferences were called as manifesting the "Indonesian dialog".

On Aug. 15, the delegation of RI, the Federal Consultative Assembly and the members of UNCI assembled in The Hague. On Aug. 23, the Round Table Conference was opened with the Netherlands. This resulted in a historic moment on Dec. 27, 1949, which took place at Dam Palace in Amsterdam. In the ceremony, the Charter of transfer of sovereignty and recognition was signed by Her Majesty the Dutch Queen Juliana.

However, the federal structure lasted for seven and a half months, as on Aug. 17, 1950 the unitary state system of the Republic was restored. In September 1950, Indonesia became the 60th member of the UN.

The most outstanding values discernible from the interplay between the monumental international episodes and the internal political development in Indonesia 50 years ago were the exemplary skills in statesmanship and international diplomacy performed by the founders of the Republic and the Indonesian leaders at the time, backed by an effective consistency in the resistance movement of the military.

On top of it, the "Indonesian dialog" had already proven its worth 50 years ago.

S. SUHAEDI

Jakarta