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

Lot 56F 158, Box 564

Directive by the Supreme Commander, Allied Powers, Japan (MacArthur) to the Japanese Government ⁷⁷

[Tokyo,] October 25, 1945.

Subject: Transfer of Custody of Diplomatic and Consular Property and Archives.

1. By direction of the Allied Powers, the following instructions are given the Imperial Japanese Government for prompt compliance:

A. Countries where Sweden or Switzerland are acting as protecting powers over Japanese interests, with the exception of those countries enumerated in subparagraph B below, the protecting power concerned will be instructed by the Japanese Government to turn over intact and without delay to representatives of the four Allied powers who have been instructed to receive them, physical custody of all Japanese diplomatic and consular property and archives in the country concerned. The protecting power, however, should continue to exercise routine functions of protection of Japanese nationals.

B. In the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, China, the United States, the British Commonwealth, France and the Netherlands, including colonies and dependencies thereof, the protecting power concerned will be instructed by the Japanese Government to turn over intact and without delay to the government of the country in which they are located, physical custody of all Japanese diplomatic and consular property and archives in the country concerned.

C. In all neutral countries, the Japanese Government will instruct the Japanese mission in such country to turn over intact and without delay physical custody of all Japanese diplomatic and consular property and archives to representatives of the four Allied powers who have been designated to receive them. Routine functions of protection of Japanese nationals in such neutral countries may be turned over to Sweden or Switzerland since these powers are acting as protecting powers for Japanese interests elsewhere.

D. The Japanese Government will immediately recall Japanese diplomatic and consular representatives in neutral countries and will cease further relations with foreign governments except as stated in sub-paragraphs A and C above, or in accordance with such procedures as are hereafter established.

2. Copies of ail instructions issued to the protecting powers or to Japanese diplomatic representatives or consular officials in the several countries concerned in compliance with this directive, and a prompt report of action taken by the recipient of such instructions wall be furnished at the earliest practicable date.

For the Supreme Commander:

H. W. Allen

,
Colonel, A.G.D.,
Asst. Adjutant General

77. This directive was based on an instruction approved at the 27th meeting of SWNCC on October 11 and transmitted to SCAP in telegram Warx 75545, October 13. The text was submitted to the Joint Chiefs of Staff by SCAP on October 18 for confirmation and was approved on October 24 (JCS 1473/13) after consultation with the Department of State.