CHANCERIESTHE DIPLOMATIC ATLAS

Sukarno Visits Dwight Eisenhower in Washington

1956

Sukarno arrived in Washington on 16 May 1956 and lunched with Dwight D. Eisenhower that day, with a state dinner following two days later. [2]

Indonesia’s experience of colonial rule shaped the discussions beneath the ceremonies. Foreign minister Roeslan Abdulgani pressed Secretary of State John Foster Dulles to abandon American neutrality over West New Guinea, which Indonesia claimed and the Netherlands still held. Dulles refused, explaining that the United States counted both countries as friends. [1]

Abdulgani also asked for longer exchanges of students and teachers, particularly in technical fields, and sought help with Indonesia’s economic development. [1] [2]

Related Diplomats

  1. Moekarto Notowigdo [4] [1]

Sources

  1. Dulles and Abdulgani discuss Indonesian–US relations

    FRUS 1955–1957, volume XXII, document 158

  2. Dulles briefing for Sukarno’s visit

    FRUS 1955–1957, volume XXII, document 157 and editorial footnotes

  3. US Information Service: Sukarno with Eisenhower

    Presiden Soekarno di Amerika Serikat, page 25

  4. Embassy of Indonesia: List of Indonesian Ambassadors to the U.S.

Related Reading

Cite This Article

Sukarno Visits Dwight Eisenhower in Washington. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record b822eeae607cf95f9a9d. https://chanceries.org/research/history/sukarno-1956-d31a9d9d2e/

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