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

740.00119 FEAC/8–545

The British Embassy to the Department of State ⁹⁹

November 5, 1945

Far East Commission

H.M.G. in the U.K. have much sympathy with Dr. Evatt’s protest.¹

While we consider that a primary responsibility in regard to arrangements for the control of Japan rests with the 4 powers party to the Moscow Declaration of October 1943,² and the Potsdam Proclamation of July 1945, and that any proposals must be considered in the light of that responsibility, we have been proceeding on the assumption that Terms of Reference would be examined by the Commission as a whole. We think that this would be the right course, though it does not of course preclude informal conversation beforehand between individual members.

99. Handed to Mr. Vincent on (November 5 by Sir George Sansom and transmitted to General McCoy on November 9.
1. See memorandum by the Under Secretary of State, November 1, p. 812.
2. Declaration of Four Nations on General Security, signed October 30, 1943. Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. i, p. 755.