Telegram from George Henry Hall to Henry Monck-Mason Moore on British policy in Indonesia (19 November 1945)
Text On 19 November 1945, following the adoption of a motion in the State Council of Ceylon stating the admiration of the people of Ceylon for the bold fight being waged by the people of Indonesia and Indochina against Dutch and French imperialism, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies, George Henry Hall, sends a telegram to the Governor of Ceylon, Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore, in which he analyses the position that the British Government should adopt concerning the recent events in Indonesia. He deplores the violence of the nationalist movements and notes the promise made by the Queen of the Netherlands in 1942 to grant more autonomy to the Dutch colonies. He also emphasises that the United Kingdom, while it supports its Dutch allies, does not wish to be involved in the administrative and political affairs of non-British territories and plans to withdraw its forces from Indonesia as soon as possible.
Source and copyright
Source: HALL, George Henry. [Telegram to Ceylon from Secretary of State for the Colonies (19 November 1945)]. 19-11-1945. No 13083/45. Kept in: The National Archives of the UK (TNA). CO - Records of the Colonial Office, Commonwealth and Foreign and Commonwealth Offices, Empire Marketing Board, and related bodies, CO 968 - Colonial Office and Commonwealth Office: Defence Department and successors: Original Correspondence. Netherlands East Indies and French Indo-China: resolution in Ceylon State Council not to hinder movements for independence. 01/01/1945-31/12/1946, CO 968/107/2.
Copyright: (c) The National Archives of the United Kingdom