Cable from Huang Zhen, 'Discussion of Issues relating to the Asian-African Conference during the Meeting with Sidik'

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Forward to: Soviet and European Department, International Department, First Asia Department, Second Asia Department, European African Department, American and Australian Department, Intelligence Department, Consular Department, Protocol Department, Human Resources Department, General Administration Department, Research Center, Xi Bai

Priority Level: Additional Rush

From: Indonesia

Date: 12 February 1955

Already forwarded to: [Zhou] Enlai, [Deng] Xiaoping, Chen Yi, [Xi] Zhongxun, Foreign Ministry, [Wang] Jiaxiang, [Li] Kenong, Su Yu, Military Unified [Command], Military Intelligence, [Lu] Dingyi, [Liao] Chengzhi, People’s Committee, Foreign Commerce Department, Unified Central

Discussion of Issues relating to the Asian-African Conference during the Meeting with Sidik [Djojosukarto]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

On 27 January, [I] met with Sidik [Djojosukarto] to discuss the Afro-Asian Conference, he expressed his satisfaction with our supportive and enthusiastic attitude.

Combining his opinion [creates] the following main points:

(1) The revolution in Asia started with Sun Yet Sen and continued by Indonesia, but since Asian countries did not connect and cooperate the gains were not significant. This time the Afro-Asian Conference is for negotiating cooperation, and the main purpose is to protect peace.

(2) Europe and America are afraid of solidarity between Afro-Asian countries, [they] are afraid of China advancing and becoming stronger. Actually if Asian countries become stronger it will not lead to imperialism, because there is no ambition to [follow] imperialism. For example there have been interactions between China and Indonesia since a long time ago, but there was never Chinese ambition to invade Indonesia.

(3) Among Afro-Asian countries there are countries that are more inclined towards the United States, and there are also some that are more inclined towards the Soviet Union. This time with the Afro-Asian Conference we must try hard to pull these countries more towards the center, China is also a major country, and will have great effects at the Afro-Asian Conference; [we] hope that China can help and cooperate.

(4) Of the foreign policies passed by the Indonesian National Party representative assembly, the most important point is that Indonesia is willing to establish diplomatic relations with any country; however the two countries must not interfere with each other’s internal affairs; the United States is interfering with other countries’ internal affairs like how they interfered in Taiwan, the results will inevitably be failure.

(5) The Afro-Asian Conference will raise Indonesia’s international position; Indonesia wants to show its abilities to the foreigners who say that Indonesia cannot rule itself.

(6) Indonesia’s general elections will be held in August; it is difficult to predict whether or not the current cabinet can be sustained until the general elections. The opposition is always acting to overthrow the cabinet; the Masyumi Party publically acknowledged that they follow the United States; the Socialist party is even more absurd. The rhetoric of the two parties is very much in the likeness of imperialist rhetoric. The development of Indonesian [political] parties is not normal; those who join parties are not necessarily in [full] view of the political network.

During the conversation, Sidik [Djojosukarto] once expressed willingness to visit China during October. Afterwards he also said: “We want to meet Premier Zhou in Beijing prior to the Afro-Asian Conference”. Afterwards, Zheng Cang Man understood the event and gave precise opinions; Zheng’s first reaction is that Sidik [Djojosukarto] will visit China in March after visiting the Philippines and Japan; [Sidik Djojosukarto] will stay in Beijing for two weeks to understand and learn how China is progressing so fast. After deliberation, Sidik [Djojosukarto] and Ali [Sastroamidjojo] expressed through Zheng that the timing for visiting China will be pushed back until after the Afro-Asian Conference (during May or June); and [they will] spend two months’ time observing and learning along with one of their engineers and one of their agricultural observers. At the same time Sa-bi-la-sa [sic] (Indonesia National Party head secretary) said the party’s central [body] decided (estimate this is Ali [Sastroamidjojo]’s proposal) that Indonesia is willing to receive Premier Zhou after the Afro-Asian Conference. [They] said that if the Premier came first then it might cause other countries to say that Indonesia is being influenced by China; this point has already been given to [Arnold] Mononutu. It seems that Indonesia very much hopes we support the Afro-Asian Conference but at the same time it is afraid of the questions we might pose. [This is] the contradiction of “the centered path”; on one hand it wants to establish contact with Premier Zhou beforehand but at the same time it is afraid of other countries making guesses.

Huang Zhen

12 February 1955