Conference proceedings (including correspondence), 1949

Conference proceedings titled (Restricted) Conference on Indonesia, Documents, Vol. I, New Delhi, January 1949; conference proceedings titled (Confidential) Conference on Indonesia, Documents, Vol. II, New Delhi, January 1949; compact disc annotated “Pt3 1949, P.R.S. Mani scans from National Archives India, one set of advice to Indian govt – Part 3 – re 1943 Indonesian-Dutch negotiations”; conference proceedings titled Round Table Conference, results as accepted in the second plenary meeting held on 2 November 1949 in the “Ridderzaal” at the Hague; correspondence Mr. Dayal, 26-29 Jan 1949

Conferences called by Prime Minister Nehru. During this period P.R.S. Mani was the Press Attaché for the Indian Consul-General based in Jakarta.

After a very brief 4.5 page opening (probably written by Mani, see below) Series 22.1 and 22.2 are a collection of documents relating to the Indonesian/Dutch conflict, gathered and arranged chronologically, for background to the Indian Government for the Conference On Indonesia, January 1949. We would know little about the process of compiling these documents except for Series 22.4, which contains brief memos dated 26 January 1949, firstly from H. Dayal – the UN Special Negotiator at this Conference which are then endorsed by Krishna (KPS) Menon, (27 and 28 January) and GS Bajpai (28 January). Dayal praises Mani highly, pointing out he not only researched, selected and compiled the documents but undertook ‘other duties’ as well, with ‘keeness and drive’ which ensured the Conference worked as well as it did.

Mani was recalled from his role as Press Attaché to the Indian Consul in Jakarta to assist with a new conference in New Delhi in June 1949. Series 22.3 is comprised of Mani’s contributions to this second conference. There is a 13 page analysis written and signed by PRS Mani, summarizing conditions in Indonesia between January 28, 1949 and May 7, 1949. Series 22.3 is a series of individual .jpgs, scanned from the holdings of the National Archives of India, held in New Delhi, and reproduced here with permission.

Series 22.4 is a printed volume of the documents used in the third conference on Indonesia, held in November 1949 and in the Hague. Mani was not identified as an author in this round of Briefing documents to the Indians at the conference, but it is endorsed on its cover: ‘To my best friend Mani, and with kindest regards’. The signature is not legible but the cover is dated 1 January 1950.