793.94/2931: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Shaw) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 27—7:07 p.m.]
812. From Ambassador Dawes: This afternoon Matsudaira called. The Drafting Committee appears to be considering whether to increase the number of members on the proposed commission from three to seven. Matsudaira feels a larger commission would be unwieldy, and he is somewhat apprehensive lest some of the smaller powers without material interest in the situation should wish to be represented. In his opinion, the commission had best consist of three members, American, British, and French. He would have no personal objection to an Italian in addition, but he has not yet heard on this point from Tokyo.
Reasons given in the Council for the larger number were the embarrassing problem which would arise in case of illness of one of the three members and the possibility also of having to form subcommittees for the purpose of covering a large area. Matsudaira commented on this that the smaller the commission is, the greater will its authority be.
Matsudaira is discussing another point with the Drafting Committee, namely, the tentative wording of the resolution:
“The two parties undertake to give the strictest orders to the commanders of the respective forces to refrain from any initiative which may lead to further fighting and loss of life.”
As it stands, the clause, Matsudaira says, would be subversive of the constitution of Japan, and he wishes the wording to be as follows:
“The two parties shall refrain from any initiative which may lead to further fighting and loss of life.”
Though the Council has not decided as yet concerning the number of members for the proposed commission, it is Matsudaira’s impression that a commission of seven members is favored. He is quite certain that his Government will object to a large commission. This information he gives confidentially, because it embarrasses him to mention eliminating the smaller powers as such. [Dawes.]
- Quotations not paraphrased.↩