740.00119 Control(Japan)/8–3045
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom would be grateful if, before replying to the proposals made in Aide-Mémoire49 which Mr. Dunn handed to Mr. Balfour on August 25th, they could have some broad indication of the views of the United States Government as to the machinery which should eventually be set up for the control of Japan. Without some such indication they find it difficult to estimate how far acceptance by His Majesty’s Government of the proposals contained in the State Department’s Aide-Mémoire of August 23rd would prejudge the tentative suggestions for a Control Council in Japan which were made in the Embassy’s Aide-Mémoire of August 20th. At first sight, for example, it would seem difficult to persuade an Advisory Commission of Ten Powers to agree to the setting up of a Control Council of Five Powers.
In the meantime, as the American proposals are understood to have been communicated to the Chinese and Soviet Governments, His [Page 697] Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom feel that they should now give those Governments an outline of their own tentative proposals.
If eventually an organisation is set up on the lines proposed by the United States Government, His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom would have to insist on the inclusion of India in the proposed Advisory Commission in view of the great part which India has played in the war against Japan, and, pending consultation with the Government of South Africa, His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom must reserve their position regarding the inclusion of a South African representative.