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6/15/1955 - Indonesia and the Bandung Conference by Boyd R. Compton

BRC Indom Bandun Confmrence NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT ORLD AFFAIRS ModJOkerto East Indonesia June Mr W Rogers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rogers Looking great small events Bandung Asian African Conference I struck nearly twenty participants prize Communist China introduced polite member polite society Japan trade agreements least seven countries Arab states gained limited conference support against Israel SEATO NATO powers conference recogni their right colleetive defense pacts Nehru formulation neutralist dream Joint statement agression interference backed moral rather material sanctions Even small Yeman supported claim Aden As Indonesia admira gratitude gracious hospitality Conference arrangements thoroughmess flair hundreds delegates newsmenho gathered clean West Javanese Bandung April April could impressed Yet critics continued harass All Sastro amidJoJo government placing importance great Bandung which claim little further Indonesia State interests The accomplishment Indonesian government Bandung weeks following cannot dismissed easily The conference itself change course history supply occasion events developments consider moment troubled groping Indonesia Pre s_tie Home Despite sustained publicity campaign government Information services significance Bandung Conference clearly average Indonesian Thousands lookers spark excitment burned Djakarta Bandung notables world through escorted screaming sirens police motorcycles I found scores clear enough ideas conference lessen world tension opposition colonialism promote peace But outside conference meeting seemed another mystery wonder illiterate millions little influenced government posters banners proclaiming great purposes stilted Indonesian Among literate minority however Bandung Confer matter discussion opinion Within group conference directly affected politicians officials government parties which sponsored event It important result strengthen faltering esteem confidence small greup which rules Indonesia It clearly detriment Indonesian interests government leaders harrassed uncertainty sensitivity outside opinion This perhaps All SastroamldJojo cabinet prede cessors In fields foreign investment foreign trade relations information policy Indonesla heavily fears uncertainties leaders This confidence Brought newsmen interviewed Prime Minister Ali With embarrassment heard position worry volubly length about unfair unsympathetic foreign press coverage Indonesia They short Indonesia critics After defeat Indonesian West Irian U N General Assembly nationalist circles preoccupied weeks about hostile attitude Ameris press eneral New York Times particular Angry charges New York Times presumably solitary short itorial West Irian responsible U N defeat It seemed awhile foreign opinion become important concrete interests Indonesian foreign policy I witnessed attentlon foreign opinion informal conversation cabinet minister recently He argued East West could never East under stands West thoroughly President Sukarno West could never leaves Freedom Hall fathom Eastern He after opening seech Indonesian West Bandung A A Conference Irian defeated shortsighted colonial attitude NATO powers He ended shocking statement could hardly avoided I asked meant between communist American blocs He answered No between East West Allowing excitment moment exaggeration minister statement seemed indicate serious insecurity uncertainty thinking foreign policy The Asian African Conference bolster nationalist leaders upset single editorial series patronizing articles Time Magazlne As editor Herawati Diah commented Indonesian Observer April Those doubtful conference achievement differently completely convinced spite ideological differences Asians Africans thing common The Aslan African Conference helped people their inferiority complex being Asian This I would greatest achievement Asian African Conference The truth Mrs Diah comment could during conference sessions final conference communique which marked realism dignity It perhaps substantial confidence which seemed Jell overnight Bandung Conference started meeting atmosphere excitement historical significance which literally swept attending delegates newsmen For importance standing countries Indonesia defended obvious facts indonesian press commentary during after confer emphasized theme prestige already apparent AA Conference Bandung doing raise national prestige First Bandung Conference Indonesia higher position international society opened ndonesia there leaders caliber whose world affairs cnnnot ignored Prestige concern official govern information Indonesian people Posters statements Speeches village people world Indonesia President Sukarno addressed meeting Bandung pardonable hype2bole We light house Panchasila pointing world It certainly appearances Bandung police rounded detained hundred prostitutes vagrants before conference Old timers Bandung remarked dearth usual night butterflies soliciting strangers doorways corners Unfortunately however relative absence private prostltute contributed indirectly famous hospitality committee scandal According opposition press hospitality commitee provide delegates prostitutes selected sored government One newspaper published documentary evidence Ereat detail existence organiza hardly doubted As I however these services provided insistence Of foreign delegates could wanted purged Such arrangement would cause little cosmopolitan country Indonesian society generally puritani The opposition press shrewd picking incident weapon attack prestlge conscious government Religious youth women groups reacted vigorously spoke against government indignation Government agencies angrily denied knowledge committee their statements seemed indicate arrangements might other offices other levels For items scandal overshadowed Asian African stories national With almos sadistic enjoyment government tormentors known outside laughing government while Indonesian I AGI2MAS TJ ANTRIK deeply shocked Eastern morality When hospitality committee scandal cooled opposition newspapers Jumped unerring instinct ether charges which called question government basic conduct dignity prestige One newspaper intimated visiting delegates poorly impressed Prime Minister Ali conduct chIrma political committee several editorials expressed doubt historical significance conference warranted purchase Plymouths American cigarettes plastic hangers impoverished government For oblivious critics Ali government conducted itself buoyant confident weeks following Asian African Conference Opposition criticisms parried ignored government obviously gained stature Hey Who traipse uninformed masses Bandung yourself lmp0rtant attitude toward I itself The confidence easily quicEly deflated based Asian African Conference Indonesia other participants pursued their goals without undue bravado false sense power Rapr_chementwit_ina Apart elusive concern prestige Indonesian government pursued concrete goals Bandumg success The principal effect course action conference weeks followed creation closer sympathetic relations Communist China A major achievement conference shared Indonesia conferees mutual agression interference contained Final Communique It essence stated principles Respect fundamental human rights purposes principles Charter United Nations Respect sovereignty territorial integrity nations Recognition equality races equality nations large small Abstention intervention interference internal affairs another country Respect right nation defend itself singly collectively conformity Charter Unlted Nations Abstention arrangements collective defence serve particular interests powers Abstention country exerting pressures other countries Refraining threats ofggression force against territorial integrity political independence country Settlement international disputes peaceful means negotiation conciliation arbitration Judicial settlement other peaceful means parties choice conformity Charter United Nations Promotion mutual interests cooperation Respect justice international obligations The excellent purpose inviting China attend Asian African Conference apparent these point China nation conference which could activities restricted pledge interference aggresslon other powers attending The completely spirit Bandung Conference backed moral rather material sanctions As triumph Nehru neutralism stand clearest Apart emphasis morality neutralism seems based general conference opiraton publlcally stated U Nu China principally concerned internal problems program expansion THE UNDERDEVELOPED MAN Magazine Jana worthwhile magazine published Ceylon enlivened Asian African Conference issue above interpretation common Asia Africa The great powers anxious rehabilitate teeth fight battles chose friends claims Jana The specifically Indonesian problem mentioned Final Communique relation disPUted West Irian which still under control Of Netherlands A carefully worded paragraph Final Communique stated conference supported position Indonesia West Irian based relevant agreements between Indonesia Netherlands Since Indonesian position merely Netherlands should consent reopen negotiations problem support offered Indonesia Final Communique cannot considered strong It however promise Indonesia slightly increased support Nations General Assembly West Irian discussed future Outside official conference sessions Indonesia engrossed neighbors making special contacts arrangements The consequential these Communist China During after Bandung Confe rence close contact between govern ments series friendly under standings The first event series Chou Sunario Treaty Issue Dual Nation ality signed April The agreement represents fresh start difficult problem determining nation ality lndonesa powerful Chinese inority estimated between three million persons The effect treaty nullify Indonesian regulations citizen Chinese obligate persons Chinese Aescent active choice within period citizenship nation other Those active choice automatically assume citizenship parent Chou En charmed Bandung Conference special concessions The treaty valuable concrete definition status persons involved For first history Chinese government agreed relinquish alleglaeof overseas Chinese Those chose Indonesian citizenship indisputably Indonesian subjects A weakness treaty cancels choice already hundreds thousands Chinese became Indonesian citizens earlier regulations This group perhaps million persons second cases third choice Indonesian citizenship The effect nationality treaty almost certainly ensure perpetuation Of immense minority Chinese citizens within Indonesian borders arrangement clearly stipulates their loyalty patriotism Peking It early whether Indonesian govern intentionally discouraging integration Chinese Indonesian society obvious effect Chou Sunario agreement would indicate attitude The second major development Indonesian Chinese relations issuance Joint Statement Chou En Ali SastroamidJ So April Four articles innocuous reiterations existence pacts China already concluded Yndla Burma The remaining Artlcle caused confusion concern Article The prime ministers agreed inalienable right every nation preserve sover eignty territorial integrity They express their sympathy support towards efforts either ntion preserve sovereignty territorial integrity The article course raises question Taiwan West Irian How Indonesia bound sympathize support attac Talwan And Indonesia future attitude West Irian patterned after Peking toward Taiwan The official paper MasJumi Party largest opposition group Indonesia considered Article direct departure Indonesias independent foreign policy The Foreign Ministry Ali defense denying article called military support event Taiwan The Minister Information joined statement Indonesia departed principles recognize claim Peking Taiwan The latest clarification Article offered Chou En June I0 He indicated China considers West Irian Indonesian domestic problem Just Taiwan status internal problem China In Interpretation Article simply states parties would political moral assistance other efforts implement sovereignty disputed regions neither party obligated militarily Soothing statements reassed opposition parties Ali critics quite reasonably debated article included statement meaning In events months Chou Ali state viewed steady trend official Indonesian sympathies toward China western Indonesia concrete obligation which departs policy neutralism official affection obviously drifting Yf rapprochement genuinely matter sympathy Asian neighborliness ature stated recent editorial government party newspaper Fancy Asian country feeling itself closer which still colonialism Asian country China which freedom development There reason however describe Indonesian policy completely terms colonial sentiments If Ali government looks China potentIsl friend struggle West Irin diplomatic counter balance western power perhaps important China market rubber other materials Prime Minister Ali lates toward cementing Indonesian Chinese relations boarded plane May Peking During schedule Mao Tee Chu Teh Liu Shao carried discussions regard Aslan African Conference decisions matters commerce On return DJakarta Ali known Indonesia offer offices future negotiations Taiwan meeting minds reachad vital Indonesian Chinese trade agreement which virtually letter eighteen months because UN embargo The weakness Indonesian foreign policy position uncertain history trade agreement As U N embargo China stands implementation difficult Indonesia power ignore embargo effectively abolition The embargo mentioned Bandu Conference Final Communique China U N membershlp Ind onesia continue toward larger China trade alone improvising foreign policy whose effectiveness dependemt powerful nations In furthering trade relations China All government walking tight skill reached Ko eksistensi Nehru Ko eksistensi Ali Sastroamidjojo An pesition newspaper udnes Raa existence China The Asian African Conference inaugurated period In Indonesian Chinese rlations goverrent claim several important achievements settlement nationality Joint statement interference offer offices Taiwan problem major toward In government implementation treaty criticism hoodwinked Chou En drifting dangerously toward The critics however premature The All govern sizeable advances foreign policy towards China without materially obligating Indonesia losing friendship United States The offer sympathy support China return haunt government embarrassing commitment wording declaration ambiguous nearly impossible construe positive binding offer From first Asian Afrlcan Conference government foreign policy series major minor successes Indonesian prestige abrOad indeed risen founds profitable future relations China A however holding inflation broken government budget dangerously unbalanced corrnp government deeply corroded national morals rebellion spread provinces hreat outrigh warlordism Sulawesi remains unanswered rumblings being Prime Minister seems Bandung accomplishments comparatively minor Indonesia internal problems continue young nation closer closer disaster Received New York