Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The British Commonwealth, The Far East, Volume VI

740.00119 F.E.A.C./10–1845: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

Washington, October 19, 1945—5 p.m.

9260. For Dunn. Sir George Sansom of British Embassy has communicated informally to Vincent the substance of a telegram which British Embassy here received from London several weeks ago, which reads as follows:

“During the discussion in London as to the Far Eastern Commission, a draft of amended terms of reference was worked out in agreement with Mr. Dunn, as something which would be put forward by the United Kingdom representative as soon as the Commission met in Washington, and which the United States Government would then support.

It was agreed that the draft of the amended terms of reference and the fact that the United States Government was prepared to support them were to be regarded as strictly secret at present.

Mr. Bevin asked Mr. Byrnes privately to ensure that the position would not be prejudiced by the publication of terms of reference originally proposed by the United States Government. He suggested to Mr. Byrnes that it was unnecessary to publish more than the fact that a Commission of Representatives of certain powers was to be set up and would shortly hold its first meeting in Washington.”

With reference to the third paragraph above Sir George commented on the fact that an official press release of Oct 10 by the Department of State⁵⁹ gives the full text of the original Terms of Reference proposed by the U.S. Government on August 21, but explained that he was not making an official complaint or even an unofficial one. He was told it is our understanding that the undertaking regarding publicity applied to the revised Terms of Reference proposed by the British and regret was expressed that a misunderstanding had arisen.

With regard to paragraphs 1 and 2 of Sir George’s communication it is my understanding that no commitment whatsoever was made with regard to support of the proposed revision of the Terms of Reference. I informed Bevin that we would support a proposal to hold meetings of the Commission in Tokyo and that we would request the Soviet Union and China to agree to inclusion of India among countries represented on the Commission and would advise those governments we agreed as to India, but I agreed only that the revision of Terms of Reference might be considered at an early meeting of the Commission.

I should appreciate receiving your interpretation and comment on this matter.

Byrnes

59. Department of State Bulletin, October 14, 1945, pp. 561, 580.