[6][7] In November 1946, following international pressure, the Indonesians and Dutch signed the Linggadjati Agreement, in which the Dutch recognized Indonesian de facto authority over Java and Sumatra and both sides agreed to cooperate in the establishment of a United States of Indonesia comprising the Republic, Borneo and eastern Indonesia.

By July 1947, the cost to the Dutch of maintaining military forces in Indonesia and the desire to regain access to the resources of Java and Sumatra led the decision to attack the Republic.

At midnight on 30 July 1947, the Dutch launched a "Police Action", and took control of West Java and Madura as well as the areas around Semarang, Medan and Palembang.

[8][9][10][11] The first attempt at establishing an independent republican State of Pasundan was by a Sundanese aristocrat named Musa Suriakartalegawa, who later claimed that it was at the suggestion of the political adviser to Dutch East Indies Lieutenant Governor Hubertus van Mook.

[13] Raden Sadikin, an employee of a Dutch food distribution centre in North Bandung, was chosen as the chairman of the party due to Kartalegawa's low reputation.

[15] As secretary and treasurer of the party, two men who had been a chauffeur before the war and garden foremen during the Japanese occupation were appointed.

The Preanger resident wrote in his report, that for centuries, there had been Sundanese-Javanese ethnic rivalry, due to differences in customs, traditions and mentality.

Klaassen expressed satisfaction with the rise of this anti-republican movement in Tatar Pasundan, advocating for Dutch support, though he harbored concerns about certain PRP members who he believed were motivated by personal gain rather than genuine regional loyalty.

Using the party as the base of support, Suriakartalegawa established the State of Pasundan in the small areas of West Java still controlled by the Dutch.

Although Van Mook had prohibited such actions, local Dutch officials provided logistical support, transporting Kartalegawa's followers to Bogor, where they were welcomed by Colonel Thompson and Resident Statius Muller.

But this did not prevent Kartalegawa from launching a movement in Bogor in May 1947, occupying offices and stations and even taking a resident prisoner.

Public meetings were held throughout West Java to oppose the formation of the state, and the Indonesian army in Garut announced IDR 10,000 bounty for the capture of Suriakartalegawa, either dead or alive.

The establishment of Pasundan convinced the Republican side of the Dutch intention to "divide and rule" and maintain their control over Indonesia.

[25] The conference managed to form a liaison committee between the Dutch and the Indonesian officials, headed by Hilman Djajadiningrat (then Governor of Jakarta).

Most of these delegates were pro-Indonesia, and a particularly vocal nationalist minority expressed its opposition to the establishment of a separate state without a referendum - as specified in the Renville Agreement.

However, support for the Indonesian Republic was so strong among the members of the parliament and the cabinet, that the Dutch authorities in Batavia felt obliged to control many aspects of Pasundan life and restrict civil liberties, including the right of assembly.

Some powers were transferred to the Pasundan government, but these were severely limited, and the Dutch even kept control of secondary and higher education, as well as the radio, newspapers and information offices.

They occupied key locations in Bandung and then headed for Jakarta to attack the United States of Indonesia Cabinet.