CALL ON YOU BY INDONESIAN MINISTER OF STATE GENERAL PANGGABEAN SEPTEMBER 8 AT 10:00 A.M.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-270-10-3-7
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: March 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: September 7, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/03/11 : LOC-HAK-270-10-3-7
(6581)
MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
SECRET/ SENSITIVE
%fL
ACTION
September 7, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: HENRY A. KISSINGER
FROM: JOHN H. HOLDRIDGEJ .
UUUU
MORI/CDF per
C05078848
SUBJECT: Call on You by Indonesian Minister of State General
Panggabean September 8 at 10:00 a. m.
You have agreed to see the Indonesian "Minister of State to Assist the President
in Defense and Security Affairs" and Armed Forces Vice Commander-in-Chief
General Maraden Pauggabean September 8 at 10:00 a.m. Panggabean is
making a formal visit to the U. S. at the invitation of Admiral Moorer. He is
also visiting the Philippines and Thailand en route here, and the U. K. and
possibly other West European capitals on his way back. You have agreed to
escort him to call on the President at 10:25 a. m. for about five minutes.
Panggabean's primary objective on this trip apparently is to test reactions to
Indonesia's goal of an enlarged security role in Southeast Asia in the wake of
our withdrawal from Vietnam. With us, he also reportedly plans to ask for
substantially increased military assistance, including combat jets such as
F-4's, and financial support for a regional counterinsurgency training program
code-named Taruna which Indonesia is interested in sponsoring. (U. S. security
assistance for Indonesia for FY 72 totaled $21. 5 million, while our economic
assistance amounted to $203 million. For FY 73 military assistance, we are
-requesting $34. 5 million in grant MAP and excess defense articles.) In
addition, Panggabean apparently also wants to sound out future U. S. intentions
in Asia -- and particularly in Southeast Asia -- in light of our moves toward
detente with the Soviets and the PRC.
The Indonesians in the past year have made a strong effort to improve
regional security cooperation in Southeast Asia. They concluded a secret
agreement with Malaysia in late July providing for expanded military
cooperation along their common border in Borneo and for joint maritime
operations in the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea. They have obtained
increased military assistance and training and intelligence cooperation from
Australia and New Zealand. Panggabean reportedly intended to use his visits
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to Bangkok and Manila to try to improve military cooperation with those
governments.
As you will recall from my schedule proposal of September 6, General
Hasnan Habib has asked to call on you after General Panggabean departs
Washington on September 9. Since Habib is General Sumitro's immediate
subordinate, he may have a message from Sumitro for you. In addition,
Panggabean has asked Habib to take up the particulars of Indonesia's
request for increased military assistance, leaving Panggabean to mention
it only in general terms to you. Since you will not be in Washington
between September 9 and 12, I suggested that Habib either call on General
Haig instead or accompany General Panggabean when he calls on you.
r_e?ornl Panacrnhpnn will be accompanied by Ambassador Thajeb.
0 one George Benson, and a U. S. military
escort officer will accompany Panggabean to the White House, and will
remain in the West Lobby during the call. I will plan to sit in on the meeting.
Suggested Talking Points
-- You wish to compliment Panggabean on Indonesia's remarkable
economic progress and political stability, noting that this is a major
stabilizing factor in Southeast Asia.
-- You want to assure Panggabean that the U. S. is not withdrawing from
Asia, and that the Nixon Doctrine is aimed at enabling the U. S. to meet its
commitments in Asia while at the same time retaining the necessary support
among the American people to do so.
-- We will continue to be as forthcoming as possible on both military
and economic assistance, and intend to maintain this assistance at least
at present levels.
-- (If Panggabean asks for increased military assistance, particularly
sophisticated combat jets such as F-4's or F-5E's.) You are sure that
the Department of Defense will work with the Indonesian Government in order
to be as responsive as possible within the limits of our available resources.
[Although we believe this needs further study, Defense recommends that
Indonesian requests for sophisticated combat jets be postponed until the
late 1970's. Indonesia's short-term needs are being satisfied by Australia's
transfer of F-86 fighters. In addition, acquisition of F-4's or F-51s would
side-track Indonesia's higher priority military needs, and would impose
burdensome operating and maintenance costs.
SECRET/ SENSITIVE
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-- (If Panggabean asks regarding U. S. financial support for the
Taruna Plan, for which General Habib asked us last fall for funds amounting
to $2 million annually. ) We support in principle Indonesian efforts to
encourage regional military cooperation. We have been able to furnish
some indirect assistance to the Taruna Plan: almost $1 million in FY 73
for intelligence equipment, and funds to rehabilitate eight Indonesian C-130
aircraft which can be used to bring third country military personnel to
Indonesia for training. 25X1
-- We have tried but have not been able to locate) (funds which
could be used for the direct support of this program; similarly, direct MAP
support runs up against Congressional prohibitions on the use of MAP funds.
Nevertheless, because we have been able to maintain and even increase
military assistance levels for Indonesia, Indonesian funds which might
otherwise be spent on military procurement can be freed for projects such
as Taruna.
-- We will continue to keep this program in mind to see where further
assistance can be provided.
SECRET/ SENSITIVE
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