740.00119 Control(Japan)/11–2045: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:20 p.m.]
3903. I handed Molotov last night the proposed amendments to the Allied Council and Far Eastern Commission, with a Russian translation for his convenience, in accordance with Dept’s 2361, November 17, 5 p.m. He studied them in connection with the previous documents. In answer to his query I told him that I understood these amendments were in addition to the amendments I had left with him [Page 862] on November 3 in accordance with Dept’s 2272, November 2, 8 p.m. He asked why we did not wish to include the word “control” in the title for the body in Japan. I replied that we did not wish anyone to obtain the impression that this body was similar to the Council for Germany and again pointed out that the functions for dealing with Japan were divided between the two bodies and, therefore, we did not wish it to be compared to the Commissions in the Balkan satellites.
He also asked whether we agreed to the inclusion of “control of Japan” in the first paragraph of the Terms of Reference of the Council. I replied that my Govt had agreed to its inclusion as I had proposed on November 3 but not to the position of the phrase as suggested in his counter-proposal.
After some further discussion I read to him a statement containing the substance of the explanation and argument in Dept’s first referred to telegram and left with him my statement in writing. I explained that my Govt had made every attempt to meet the questions that were giving him concern insofar as it was possible. He said that he wished to study the amendments carefully in connection with our previous proposals and would then give me the reply of his Govt.
As on previous occasions I again got the impression that Molotov’s principal interest was the Council in Japan. It has been my presumption that his evident desire to increase the authority of this body as against the Commission lay not only in the fact that it functions in Japan but also because it is composed of the four principal powers.
I then gave him verbally the contents of Dept’s 2362, November 17, 7 p.m. regarding British Commonwealth troops in occupation, emphasizing that this was for his info and was not connected with our current discussions. He said that Stalin had explained the point of view of the Soviet Govt on the subject of Soviet occupation troops. I told him that we fully understood this and that I was not raising the subject of Soviet troops being used in occupation of Japan, although naturally they would be welcome under the conditions stipulated. I emphasized that the British troops would be integrated into the forces under MacArthur’s command and explained that this relationship both ways had functioned successfully during the war. Molotov replied that he understood this. In reply to a further question I told him I had no info on the subject of Chinese troops for occupation.