740.00119 Council/10–1345: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
9100. Secdel 171. For Dunn. We can understand of course the British desire to send a political representative to Japan at an early-date. At the same time I am sure they will understand that their raising this question at this particular time presents difficulties to us. It would be much preferable from our standpoint for the question of allied representation in Tokyo to be laid before the Far Eastern Advisory Commission which as you know will be meeting in about 10 days and we hope that in the circumstances the British Government will be agreeable to waiting until this can be done.42
In any event it would be inappropriate for a political representative to proceed to Japan without prior clearance with General MacArthur and we would not feel justified in approaching General MacArthur without more detailed information regarding British plans including (1) proposed functions and duties to be performed by political representative, (2) approximate size of “suitable staff” which he is to have and (3) in view of possibility of Far Eastern Advisory Commission sitting in Tokyo, relationship which it is contemplated he will have with that Commission as well as with General MacArthur. Please reply to Bevin along above lines.
- The Chinese Embassy made a similar request to appoint Hsu Mou as head of a special Chinese mission to be attached to General MacArthur’s headquarters and was advised that the matter would be brought up before the Far Eastern Commission.↩