In a telegram dated 21 November 1945 and sent to the British Chiefs of Staff, the British Admiral Louis Mountbatten analyses the situation in Indonesia. He particularly comments on the Japanese surrender, Indonesia’s declaration of independence on 17 August 1945 and the clashes between the Indonesian republican forces, the Japanese troops and the Dutch and allied forces. Lord Mountbatten describes his mission, which is mainly to liberate allied prisoners of war and to disarm and repatriate the Japanese forces.