Finding
It is at this point, in late 1981 and early 1982, that the tale becomes murky, very controversial, and ultimately less than honorable for the United States.
Paper
The United States and Asia in 1982: Year of Tenterhooks
Abstract
gun: dissatisfied with Japan on trade and defense matters; uneasy and somewhat worried about the China connection; and the subject from the perspective of the ASEAN and other "smaller" states of doubts and unease regarding the direction and consistency of U.S. roles in East Asia. While there were no great losses for U.S. policy in 1982, neither were there important gains, and there were some embarrassments and setbacks. Symptomatic of much of the difficulties that the Reagan administration encountered (and created for itself) was the replacement of the courtly and experienced John Holdridge as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, and his assignment at year's end as Ambassador to Indonesia. The Jakarta post had been vacant for almost a year-an anomaly under any circumstances and in this instance the issues involved were sufficiently unique and important to be worth recounting. Initially the State Department had planned to assign Michael Armacost as Ambassador to Indonesia, with Morton Abramowitz, the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand until July 1981, likely to be sent to Manila. When the decision was made to assign Armacost to the Philippines, Abramowitz was designated for Indonesia, and reportedly had a telephone call from President Reagan to this effect.' It is at this point, in late 1981 and early 1982, that the tale becomes murky, very controversial, and ultimately less than honorable for the United States. Reportedly, a "confidential" American memorandum questioning Abramowitz' suitability for the Indonesia job circulated in Jakarta and
Authors
Bernard K. Gordon
Journal
Asian Survey