740.00119 FEAC/10–2945
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent)
The Chinese Ambassador, Dr. Wei, called on the Secretary this morning and handed him the attached aide-mémoire,87 in regard to Allied machinery for the control of Japan.
[Page 804]Subsequently the Ambassador discussed the matter with Mr. Acheson. Mr. Vincent joined the conversation and the Secretary came in on the conclusion of the conference.
Mr. Acheson explained to the Ambassador our proposed revision of the Terms of Reference for the Far Eastern Advisory Commission (to be the Far Eastern Commission), and also explained our proposal with regard to an Allied Military Council in Tokyo.
The Ambassador expressed the belief that these two proposals would meet with the approval of the Chinese Government. He then went on to express concern that the Russian representative would not be present at the opening session of the Commission. He suggested that a motion be made by him, in which he would express regret at the absence of the Russian representative and suggest an adjournment of the Commission until next week. He also advised against a free discussion in the Commission of the revision of the Terms of Reference. He considered it highly advisable that the four inviting powers agree upon any revision of the Terms of Reference and then simply advise the other members of the Commission of this fact.
The Secretary expressed agreement with these ideas and told Mr. Vincent to give the Ambassador a copy of our proposed revision of the Terms of Reference. This Mr. Vincent did when the Ambassador called on him at noon and at the same time persuaded the Ambassador to make no direct mention of Russia in his proposed motion tomorrow, but simply propose that the sessions of the Commission be postponed for a week in order to allow the four inviting powers to conclude their consideration of a revision of the Terms of Reference.
- Supra. ↩