740.00119 P.W./8–2245: Telegram
The Chargé in Australia (Minter) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:30 a.m.]
127. Deptels Nos. 82, August 1730 and 83, August 18.31 I gave Evatt orally the substance of No. 82 and when he asked for it in writing could not decline. The next day I delivered a note with the bare invitation conveyed in No. 83.
Evatt summoned me to Sydney last night and I returned early today with this:
“I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your notes of the 18th and 19th August advising me, first, that because of the outstanding part played by Australia in the war against Japan the US Govt was giving every consideration to the wish of the Australian Govt to [Page 686] participate in the formal act of surrender of Japan, and, second, that the presence of a representative of the Australian Armed Forces on the occasion of the surrender would be welcomed. I now formally advise you that General Sir Thomas Blarney has been appointed as the representative of the Australian Armed Forces.
Events have moved and are moving so rapidly that I feel it essential in the interests of the cooperation of our two Govts to take this opportunity of setting out the attitude of the Australian Govt in these and related matters. For this purpose I am inclosing a memo which I ask you to be good enough to transmit without delay to your Govt.”
The memo has nearly 2,000 words and because of expense and delay in secret ciphering I venture to summarize below instead of cabling in full.
It reviews Australia’s war effort in detail including billion dollars reciprocal aid; quotes public statements of Roosevelt and MacArthur, praising this effort; recalls active field cooperation of Australian and US forces who for 3 years fought almost alone against Japanese.
It states belief of Govt that it was the intention both of Roosevelt and Churchill that Australia should be regarded and accepted as a principal party in all stages of the armistice and peace settlements with Japan, adding that they had a general assurance to this effect from Churchill as late as April this year. This assurance given by Churchill when Evatt was at London, former stating conviction that Roosevelt would join in the assurance; but President’s tragic death intervened.
Memo deplores non-consultation on Potsdam ultimatum as well as failure of UK and US Govts to consider Australian suggestions on surrender.
It then reviews events leading to acceptance of Blarney but views as a dilution and weakening of the recognition expressed in Deptel 82 the inclusion of certain other countries which “for one reason or another have contributed very little to the war effort against Japan.”
It then takes up question of UK proposal that Australia should be the fifth member of the Control Council and earnestly requests US support.
It closes by stating that in the light of the above considerations the Australian Govt asks the concurrence and support of the US Govt in “1, that in view of the special contribution in the war against Japan,. Australia should participate in the signing of the main act of surrender; 2, that Australian forces forming part of the occupation in Japan should be accepted and regarded as independently designated Australian forces subordinate only to the Supreme Command; 3, that Australia should take part as a principal in the Allied Control Council for Japan or any other body corresponding thereto; 4, that Australia should take full part as a member of the Council of Foreign Ministers [Page 687] in relation to all matters affecting or concerning the Pacific and Far East.”
Their main immediate concern is that Blarney shall sign for Australian forces instead of just being an observer. They consider too that membership on Control Council is natural corollary to signing and vice versa.
I have not yet encountered such strong language of official protest as I have during this episode.
Full text of memo being cabled to Eggleston32 but he is not instructed to deliver. I am airmailing text33 but will cable fully if Dept desires (about 5,000 groups). Text also cabled to London for UK Govt.