His Majesty's Government have learned with satisfaction of the signature by Dutch and Indonesian representatives at Batavia on 25th March of the Linggadjati Agreement. It will be recalled that this agreement provides for certain constitutional changes in the Netherlands East Indies; in particular the de facto recognition of the Republic of Indonesia in Java, Madura and Sumatra, to be followed by the creation of a United States of Indonesia and eventually of a Netherlands-Indonesian Union, based on free association and collaboration between the Dutch and Indonesians in all fields. It is to be hoped that the agreement now reached will pave the way for a new era of peace and prosperity which will benefit not only Indonesia but the world in general. As to our relations with the Indonesian Republic, His Majesty's Government will extend to the Indonesian Republic the de facto recognition accorded by the Netherlands under Article I of the Agreement. Our contact with the Republic will, for the present, be maintained through His Majesty's Consul-General at Batavia.