Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T02:33:17.673Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Malaysian–American Relations during Indonesia's Confrontation against Malaysia, 1963–66

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Pamela Sodhy
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The period from 1963 to 1966, which spans Indonesia's “confrontation” against Majaysia, marks an important benchmark in the history of Malaysian-American relations as it represents the first direct involvement of the United States into the political affairs of Malaysia. Before confrontation, the United States had maintained a low profile in the country and had confined the relationship to mainly economic issues. Politically, the United States had, for the most part, hovered in the background behind the British who had continued their close ties with Malaysia even after the granting of independence in 1957. America's deeper involvement with Malaysia because of confrontation, signified, therefore, a distinct departure from its earlier policy.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , March 1988 , pp. 111 - 136
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

This article is prepared for delivery at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies held at Chicago Hilton and Towers, Illinois on 21–23 March 1986.

1 Jones, Howard Palfrey, Indonesia: The Possible Dream (New York, 1971), p. 265Google Scholar.

2 Pluvier, Jan M., Confrontation: A Study in Indonesian Politics (Kuala Lumpur, 1965), p. 65Google Scholar.

3 Jones, , Indonesia, p. 266Google Scholar.

4 Ibid. According to Jones, who served as the American Ambassador to Indonesia from 1958 to 1965, the Indonesian Prime Minister, Djuanda, commented: “Of course, we would rather have an independent Asian nation on our northern borders instead of a British colony.” The Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), however, bitterly opposed the Malaysia plan and, as early as December 1961, adopted a resolution condemning its formation as “neo-colonialism” and an attempt to suppress “the democratic and patriotic movements of the peoples in five territories which are aimed at the attainment of genuine national independence and freedom from imperialism”. The PKI took its stand long before Peking or Moscow opposed Malaysia. See Kahin, George McT., “Malaysia and Indonesia”, Pacific Affairs XXXVII (Fall 1964): 263Google Scholar.

5 Pluvier, , Confrontations, pp. 63–64Google Scholar.

6 See Bedlington, Stanley S., Malaysia and Singapore: The Building of New States (Ithaca, 1978), pp. 260–62Google Scholar.

7 For an account of the Brunei Revolt, see Mackie, J.A.C., Konfrontasi: The Indonesia-Malaysia Dispute, 1963–1966 (Kuala Lumpur, 1974), pp. 112–32Google Scholar. Mackie's book is perhaps the best comprehensive survey of the confrontation episode between Indonesia and Malaysia. For the Brunei Revolt, see also Brackman, Arnold C., Southeast Asia's Second Front (New York, 1966), pp. 133–56Google Scholar.

8 Jones, , Indonesia, p. 268Google Scholar.

9 Gould, James W., The United States and Malaysia (Cambridge, 1969), p. 202CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

10 See Mezerik, A. G., Malaysia–Indonesia Conflict (New York, 1965), p. 72Google Scholar.

11 Jones, , Indonesia, p. 318Google Scholar.

12 Christian Science Monitor, 18 September 1963.

13 Central Intelligence Agency Report, 28 February 1964, National Security File (hereafter NSF), Malaysia, Vol. 1, Cables, LBJ Library. For this and most of the other documents from the Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Library, I am indebted to Professor Walter LaFeber, Marie Underhill Noll Professor of American History, Cornell University.

14 Memorandum to the State Department by James F. O'Connor, Jr., First Secretary, American Embassy, Djakarta, 24 December 1963, NSP, Malaysia, Vol. 1, Cables, LBJ Library.

15 Interview between Professor George McT. Kahin of Cornell University and Indonesian Foreign Minister, Subandrio, in Djakarta on 30 June 1963. For the notes of this interview, I am indebted to Professor Kahin, Aaron L. Binenkorb Professor of International Studies, Cornell University.

16 The Washington Post, 17 February 1963. The Washington Post claimed that “Malaysia originally was conceived of by Britain as an especially felicitous way of abdicating from an out-moded, unwanted colonialism while still hanging on to her naval base in Singapore, the last great British military outpost in Asia now protecting the Queen's commercial interests all the way up to Hong Kong.” See also Leifer, Michael, “Retreat and Reappraisal in Southeast Asia”, in Leifer, Michael (ed.), Constraints and Adjustments in British Foreign Policy, p. 87Google Scholar.

17 Hilsman, Roger, To Move a Nation: The Politics of Foreign Policy in the Administration of John F. Kennedy (New York, 1967), p. 384Google Scholar.

18 See Kahin, George McT., “Indonesia”, in Kahin, George McT. (ed.), Major Governments of Asia, pp. 560–61Google Scholar.

19 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 399Google Scholar.

20 Kahin, , “Indonesia”, in Kahin, (ed.), Major Governments of Asia, p. 684Google Scholar. Indonesian leaders believed that the British had allowed rebel pilots to use the Singapore airfield and that several British firms had advanced credit to the rebels. The Indonesian government was also convinced that the Tunku had helped the rebels in Sumatra to arrange for supplies in Malaya.

21 Pluvier, , Confrontations, p. 72Google Scholar.

22 Memorandum by David C. Cuthell and Edward C. Ingraham, 4 June 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. II, LBJ Library; “Impressions of the Malaysian Scene”, by Ambassador Charles F. Baldwin to the State Department, 17 January 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

23 Pluvier, , Confrontations, pp. 69–71Google Scholar.

24 For a discussion of some of the reasons for Indonesia's Confrontation policy, see Jones, , Indonesia, pp. 271–73Google Scholar. For an account of the role of the army in Indonesian politics, see Crouch, Harold, The Army and Politics in Indonesia (Ithaca, 1978)Google Scholar.

25 Pluvier, , Confrontations, p. 69Google Scholar.

26 Kahin, George McT., “Malaysia and Indonesia”, Pacific Affairs XXXVII (Fall 1964): 256–58Google Scholar.

27 See “Prospects for Malaysia”, by Roger Hilsman, The Assistant Secretary of State, to the Secretary of State, 5 September 1962, James C. Thomson Papers, Southeast Asia: Malaysia, John F. Kennedy Library.

28 Ambassador Charles F. Baldwin to State Department, “Impressions of the Malaysian Scene”, 17 January 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

29 Jones, , Indonesia, p. 312Google Scholar.

30 Wall Street Journal, 15 February 1963, as quoted in Jones, , Indonesia, p. 260Google Scholar.

31 “Memorandum for the President on U.S. Position on Malaysia”, Dean Rusk to President Kennedy, 17 February 1963, Papers of President Kennedy, National Security Files, Countries Series, Borneo, Vol. 1, Box 11, Kennedy Library. For this important document, I am indebted to Professor Walter LaFeber.

32 Ibid.

33 Straits Times, 25 February 1963.

34 Ibid., 25 March 1963.

35 Charles F. Baldwin, recorded interview by Dennis O'Brien, 13 March 1969, p. 76, John F. Kennedy Library Oral History Programme.

36 Ibid.

37 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 406Google Scholar.

38 See for example, the secret memorandum to President Johnson by Robert W. Komer of the White House Staff, 21 July 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Tunku's Visit, 1964, LBJ Library.

39 Mezerik, , Malaysia–Indonesia Conflict, pp. 24–25Google Scholar.

40 See Gould, , The United States and Malaysia, pp. 207–209Google Scholar. For a fuller treatment of the Sabah claim by the Philippines, see Leifer, Michael, The Philippines Claim to Sabah, Hull Monographs on Southeast Asia, No. 1 (London, 1968)Google Scholar.

41 Pluvier, , Confrontations, p. 74Google Scholar.

42 Mezerik, , Malaysia–Indonesia Conflict, p. 70Google Scholar.

43 See Gould, , The United States and Malaysia, p. 203Google Scholar.

44 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 391Google Scholar.

45 Notes of Professor George McT. Kahin's interview with Howard Jones, Djakarta, end of June and beginning of July 1963, by courtesy of Professor Kahin.

46 Mezerik, , Malaysia–Indonesia Conflict, p. 71Google Scholar.

47 Interview between Professor Kahin and S. V. Lopez, the Philippines Foreign Minister, Manila, 5 August 1963. For the notes of this interview, I am indebted to Professor Kahin.

48 Notes of Subandrio's conversation with Professor Kahin, Manila, 2 August 1963, by courtesy of Professor Kahin.

49 Pluvier, , Confrontations, p. 72Google Scholar.

50 Straits Times, 6 August 1963; Malay Mail, 8 August 1963.

51 Jones, , Indonesia, p. 283Google Scholar. See also Malay Mail, 8 August 1963.

52 Telegram by Rusk to the American Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, 8 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library; Rusk to the American Embassy in London, 28 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library; and Jones to the State Department, 7 March 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. II, LBJ Library.

53 Ambassador James Bell to the State Department, 5 October 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

54 Memorandum by Ambassador Stevenson in Manila to the State Department, 17 April 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. II, Cables, LBJ Library.

55 See memorandum for Mr McGeorge Bundy, the White House, by William H. Brubeck, Executive Secretary, the Department of State, 12 March 1963, NSF, Malaysia, Box 140, Kennedy Library. Razak also served as Minister of Rural Development. Razak had originally been invited by the American government to make an official visit in mid-1962 but he had been too busy then. See telegram by George W. Ball, Under Secretary of State, to the American Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, 18 March 1963, NSF, Malaysia, Box 140, Kennedy Library.

56 Telegram by George W. Ball to the American Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur, 18 March 1963, NSF, Malaysia, Box 140, Kennedy Library.

57 Baldwin to the Secretary of State, 23 March 1963, NSF, Malaysia, Box 140, Kennedy Library. See also the Malay Mail, 22 April 1963.

58 Unclassified message by the Navy Department to the State Department and the White House, 20 April 1963, NSF, Malaysia, Box 140, Kennedy Library.

59 Memorandum for Mr McGeorge Bundy, the White House, by William H. Brubeck, Executive Secretary, 23 April 1963, NSF, Malaysia, Box 140, Kennedy Library.

60 See the Washington Post, 2 February 1963.

61 Ibid., 14 February 1963.

62 Ibid.

63 Telegram by Rusk to the American Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, 24 April 1963, NSF, Malaysia, Box 140, Kennedy Library.

64 Straits Times, 27 March 1963.

65 Malay Mail, 24 May 1963.

66 Baldwin to the Secretary of State, 16 August 1963, NSF, Malaysia, Box 140, Kennedy Library.

67 Straits Times, 12 October 1963.

68 Quoted in Christian Science Monitor, 25 March 1963.

69 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 403Google Scholar.

70 Ibid., p. 393.

71 Mezerik, , Malaysia–Indonesia Conflict, pp. 29–32Google Scholar.

72 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 404Google Scholar.

73 See “Letter of Congratulations from President Kennedy to the Chief of State of Malaysia”, 16 September 1963, NSF, Malaysia, Box 140, Kennedy Library. Alexis Johnson was instructed to present Kennedy's letter to the Malaysian king. See memorandum for McGeorge Bundy by Benjamin H. Read, Executive Secretary, Department of State, 11 September 1963, NSF, Malaysia, Box 140, Kennedy Library.

74 Straits Times, 18 September 1963.

75 Christian Science Monitor, 18 September 1963.

76 See van der Kroef, Justus M., “The United States and the Future of Malaysia”, United Asia XV (11 1963): 813Google Scholar.

77 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 405Google Scholar.

78 Ibid.

79 “Impressions of the Malaysia Situation”, by Baldwin to the State Department, 17 January 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

80 Charles F. Baldwin, recorded interview by Dennis O'Brien, 13 March 1969, p. 12, John F. Kennedy Library Oral History Programme.

81 “The General Malayan Situation”, by Baldwin to the State Department, 15 November 1961, James C. Thomson Papers, Southeast Asia: Malaysia, Kennedy Library.

82 “Impressions of the Malaysia Situation”, by Baldwin to the State Department, 17 January 1964, NSF, Malaysia; Vol. 1, LBJ Library.

83 Ibid.

84 Ibid.

85 Jones, , Indonesia, pp. 312–13Google Scholar.

86 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 382Google Scholar.

87 Jones, , Indonesia, p. 297Google Scholar.

88 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 400Google Scholar.

89 Ibid., pp. 400–401.

90 Jones, , Indonesia, pp. 314–15Google Scholar.

91 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, pp. 372–73Google Scholar.

92 Howard Palfrey Jones, recorded interview by Dennis O'Brien, 23 June 1969, pp. 24, 28, John F. Kennedy Library Oral History Programme.

93 Ibid.

94 NYT, 19 November 1963.

95 Jones, , Indonesia, p. 345Google Scholar. Only by April 1965 were the economic assistance programmes and the American Military Assistance Programme (MAP) virtually terminated. Ibid., p. 362.

96 NYT, 21 November 1963.

97 Ibid., 22 November 1963.

98 NYT, 28 April 1963. As of 1963, very few Malaysian officers had been trained in the United States. On the other hand, according to Lt. Colonel George Benson, over 900 Indonesian army officers had received substantial tours of training in the United States by 1963. Notes of interview between Professor Kahin and Lt. Col. Benson, Djakarta, 16 July 1963, by courtesy of Professor Kahin.

99 “Letter to President Johnson from Political Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister”, 11 December 1963, in Memorandum by Rusk to Ambassador Bell, 2 January 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

100 Ibid., Rusk wrote, “There should be no discussion of the questions raised by Mr. Abdullah Ahmad regarding the U.S. policy toward Indonesia and the Philippines.”

101 Komer to the President, 21 July 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. II, Cables, LBJ Library.

102 Memorandum by Komer to the President, 17 July 1964, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. II, Cables, LBJ Library.

103 Outgoing telegram, Department of State, 8 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

104 Ambassador Jones to State Department, 12 March 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, Cables, LBJ Library.

105 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 405Google Scholar.

106 Jones, , Indonesia, p. 303Google Scholar.

107 Ibid., p. 321.

108 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 394Google Scholar.

109 Ibid., p. 395. According to the Clay Report: “We do not see how external assistance can be granted to this nation [Indonesia] by freeworld countries unless it puts its internal house in order, provides fair treatment to foreign creditors and enterprises, and refrains from international adventures.”

110 Ibid. See also Jones, , Indonesia, p. 279Google Scholar.

111 See Foo, Lee Kwang, “The U.S. and the Indonesia–Malaysia Dispute, 1963–1965: American Response to a Regional Conflict”, Master's Thesis, Cornell University, 1980, pp. 1–4Google Scholar.

112 Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 407Google Scholar.

113 See Schlesinger, Arthur M. Jr, Robert Kennedy and His Times (Boston, 1978), p. 633Google Scholar. See also Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 408Google Scholar.

114 Robert Kennedy was also not very keen on being Johnson's emissary for he later remarked: “I hadn't wanted to go on that trip.” See Schlesinger, , Robert Kennedy, pp. 633–35Google Scholar.

115 Jones, , Indonesia, p. 301Google Scholar.

116 Memorandum by Donald B. McCue, American Counselor in Kuala Lumpur, to the State Department, 3 February 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

117 According to Jones, “The British press was all but unanimous in their distaste for Kennedy's mediation. A notable exception was the London Economist which praised his role and said he deserved congratulations and thanks for arranging a cease-fire. See Jones, , Indonesia, p. 302Google Scholar. The official British view, though, was one of praise for the Kennedy Mission. See NYT, 27 January 1964 and 14 February 1964.

118 Jones, , Indonesia, p. 304Google Scholar.

119 Ibid., p. 311.

120 President Lyndon Johnson to Tunku Abdul Rahman, through Ambassador Bell, 19 May 1964, NSF, Country File, Tunku's Visit 1964, LBJ Library.

121 R. W. Komer to the President, 14 May 1964, NSF, Country File, Tunku Visit 1964, LBJ Library. For the Tunku's visit, the CIA prepared a report “Leading personalities for the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Rahman” with biographical material on the following—the Tunku; Ong Yoke Lin, Malaysian Ambassador to the US and UN; Senu bin Abdul Rahman, Minister of Information and Broadcasting; Inche Mohamed Ghazali bin Shafie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs; and Inche Abdul Kadir bin Sham-suddin, Secretary of Defense. CIA Report, 14 July 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Tunku's Visit, LBJ Library.

122 Memorandum by George Ball to the President recommending that the Tunku be invited, 12 May 1964, NSF, Country File, Tunku's Visit 1964, LBJ Library.

123 Foo, Lee Kwang, “The U.S. and the Indonesia–Malaysia Dispute”, Master's Thesis, Cornell University, 1980, p. 327Google Scholar.

124 Telegram by Ambassador Bell to the Secretary of State, 20 May 1964, NSF, Country File, Tunku's Visit, 1964, LBJ Library.

125 Dispatch by Robert W. Moore, First Secretary of Embassy, Kuala Lumpur, to the State Department, 2 July 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Tunku Visit, LBJ Library. Moore informed the State Department about the discussion that the Political Officer at the American Embassy, Jerrold M. Dion, had had with the American Desk Officer, Inche Khalil bin Ya'acob, of the Malaysian Ministry of External Affairs.

126 The Sunday Mail, Singapore, 19 07 1964Google Scholar and the Malay Mail, Kuala Lumpur, 20 07 1964Google Scholar.

127 Memorandum by R. W. Komer to the President, 21 July 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Tunku's Visit 1964, LBJ Library.

128 The Sunday Mail, Singapore, 19 07 1964Google Scholar.

129 Donald McCue, to the State Department, 3 February 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

130 The Sunday Mail, Singapore, 19 07 1964Google Scholar.

131 The Straits Times, 22 July 1964.

132 The Malay Mail, 24 July 1964; Memorandum by McCue to the State Department, 23 July 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Tunku Visit, LBJ Library.

133 McCue to the State Department, 23 July 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Tunku's Visit, LBJ Library.

134 The Straits Times, 25 July 1964.

135 “Proposed text of Joint Communique by the President and the Prime Minister of Malaysia following discussions held in Washington D. C. on July 22, 1964”, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Tunku's Visit, LBJ Library.

136 Gould, , The United States and Malaysia, p. 225Google Scholar.

137 The Malay Mail, 23 July 1964.

138 The Malay Mail, 23–25 July 1964. The 25 July 1964 issue listed the Tunku's achievement at the talks as:

1. President Johnson's renewed pledge of US support for Malaysia's peaceful independence, security and sovereignty;

2. His offer to provide military training in the United States for Malaysian personnel; and

3. His prompt and sympathetic consideration of the Tunku's request for credit sales of jet reconnaissance aircraft, troop-carrying helicopters, and landing craft for use in jungle warfare against Indonesian forces.

139 The Malay Mail, 24 July 1964.

140 Rusk to Kuala Lumpur Embassy, 30 July 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Tunku Visit 1964, LBJ Library.

141 Memorandum by R. W. Komer to the President, 23 July 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Tunku's Visit 1964, LBJ Library. Komer also commented: “The visit has been smooth. The Tunku's mood is good. He is pleased at the overt signs of our support, which strengthens him at home and vis-à-vis Sukarno. (However, he's gone a little far in using Washington as a platform for tough anti-Indo talk, and in badly telling the press about everything you told him.) We may have a few stitches to pick up in Djakarta.”

142 Ambassador James Bell to the State Department, 28 January 1964, as quoted in Memorandum by Michael V. Forrestal to Roger Hilsman, 20 February 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

143 Ambassador Bell in Kuala Lumpur to Secretary of State, 3 November 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

144 Secret Memorandum by R. W. Komer, 3 November 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

145 Huang, C. W., “US Must Not Sacrifice Malaysia to Save Sukarno”, The Malay Mail, Kuala Lumpur, 20 07 1964Google Scholar.

146 Rusk to Ambassador Bell, 3 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

147 Mackie, , Konfrontasi, p. 264Google Scholar.

148 Ambassador Bell to the State Department, 7 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

149 Ibid.

150 Malaysia's Case in the United Nations Security Council: Documents Reproduced from the Official Record of the Security Council Proceedings (Kuala Lumpur: Ministry of External Affairs, 1964), pp. 20–21Google Scholar.

151 See Harlan Cleveland to Bundy, “Stevenson Speech Before Security Council on Malaysia”, 10 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

152 Malaysia's Case in the United States Security Council, pp. 80–81.

153 Memorandum by Benjamin Read, Executive Secretary, Department of State to Mr McGeorge Bundy, the White House, 22 September 1964 (NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library). This memorandum enclosed a letter from the Embassy of Malaysia transmitting a message from the Prime Minister of Malaysia to the President. The Tunku wrote: “I wish to thank you whole heartedly for the support accorded to my country during the recent Security Council debate on Indonesian aggression … your support in our hour of need is a source of inspiration to me and to the people of Malaysia to uphold our independence and sovereignty.”

154 Gould, , The United States and Malaysia, p. 225Google Scholar.

155 Baldwin, “Impressions”, 17 January 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

156 Jones, , Indonesia, p. 313Google Scholar.

157 Jones to Secretary of State, 12 February 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

158 Outgoing telegram by Thomas F. Conlon of the Far East Bureau in the State Department, 8 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, Cables, LBJ Library.

159 Secret Memorandum by McCue in Kuala Lumpur to State Department, 3 February 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

160 Ibid.

161 Telegram by William R. Bundy to the American Ambassadors in London, Canberra, and Wellington, 11 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

162 Interview with Ambassador Charles F. Baldwin, Charlottesville, Virginia, 20 August 1979.

163 Memorandum by R. W. Komer, 4 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, Cables, LBJ Library; Secretary of State, Rusk, to the American Ambassador in London, 28 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

164 Rusk to American Ambassador in London, 28 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

165 Baldwin, “Impressions”, 17 January 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

166 Telegram by Ambassador Stevenson in Manila to the State Department, 17 April 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

167 See Mackie, J.A.C. (ed.), Australia in the New World Order (Melbourne, 1976), pp. 27–46Google Scholar. See also Hilsman, , To Move a Nation, p. 392Google Scholar.

168 Straits Times, 24 January 1964.

169 For the Text of the SEATO Treaty, see United Nations, Treaty Series, Treaties and International Agreements Registered or Filed and Reported with the Secretariat of the United Nations, Vol. 209 (1955), No. 2819Google Scholar, “Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America: Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty”, 8 September 1954, pp. 24–36.

170 Outgoing telegram by Dean Rusk, 15 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

171 Rusk explained the complicated nature of America's indirect obligation through SEATO to defend Malaysia:

With respect to USG, we have appended to reaty an understanding that obligation under Article IV(1) to take action in case of armed attack applies only to communist aggression; in event to other aggression, we agree to consult under Article VI(2) of treaty. No action can be taken under Article IV(2) without agreement all SEATO members (abstention not considered veto). Parties other than US have no such understanding and would be obligated to act.under Article IV(1) in accordance their constitutional processes in event of Indo aggression bymeans of armed attack on UK, Australian or NZ forces in Malaysia. Action can be taken under Article IV(1) individually or collectively, so veto not applicable.

See ibid.

172 Ibid. Ambassador Jones to the Secretary of State, 1 February 1964, NSF, Malaysia, Vol. I, LBJ Library.

173 Charles F. Baldwin, recorded interview by Dennis O'Brien, 13 March 1969, p. 55, Kennedy Library Oral History Program.

174 Gould, , The United States and Malaysia, p. 205Google Scholar.

175 Telegram by William P. Bundy to the American Ambassadors in London, Canberra, and Wellington, 11 September 1964, NSF, Country File, Malaysia, Vol. III, LBJ Library.

176 See NYT, 18 December 1963.

177 Jones, , Indonesia, pp. 347–51Google Scholar.

178 Ibid., pp. 352–67.

179 Ibid., Part IV, Chapters 1 and 2. About 30,000 Communists were slaughtered as a result of the coup. Ibid., p. 372: Suharto was named Acting President in March 1967 and President in 1968. Ibid., p. 403.

180 Ibid., p. 403.