740.00119 Control(Japan)/12–145
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent)
| Participants: | Dr. Wei Tao-ming, Chinese Ambassador |
| U—Mr. Acheson | |
| FE—Mr. Vincent |
The Chinese Ambassador, Dr. Wei, called at 11 a.m. at the request of the Under Secretary. Mr. Acheson went over with Dr. Wei the developments that had led up to the present situation in our discussion with the Russians with regard to terms of reference for an Allied Council in Tokyo and a Far Eastern Commission in Washington. He said that, although he understood that Mr. Vincent had kept the Ambassador currently informed of our negotiations with the Russians he thought it well to summarize the situation and state what our present position was. We had conducted informal discussions with the Soviet Government in regard to these matters to see to what extent we could ascertain their views and, if possible, meet them. We had now reached the point where we felt that we had probably come to the end of profitable discussion. We knew the Soviet point of view but we did not know to what extent the British and Chinese Governments felt able to accept the views which we had expressed to the Russians. One of the principal obstacles to further discussion with the Russians was their view that a change in the Japanese Cabinet, including the Premier, should be made only by unanimous agreement of the 4 principal powers, plus whatever other powers it took to make for a majority. We could not accede to this Russian position because it might result in a serious curtailment of General MacArthur’s control over the Japanese Government. Failure of the 4 powers to agree might (1) result in the continuance of a Japanese Government which was not carrying out General MacArthur’s orders or (2) make impossible the formation of a Japanese Government in the event the Cabinet resigned and the 4 powers could not agree on the formation of a new Cabinet.
Ambassador Wei was handed copies of two papers which were drawn up to show the changes that had been made in the originally proposed terms of reference for the Allied Council in Tokyo and the Far Eastern Commission in Washington—changes that had resulted from our discussions with the Russians. Mr. Acheson told the Ambassador [Page 873] that we would appreciate having the views of his Government as soon as he could conveniently obtain them with regard to the changes indicated.43
- A similar request was made of Viscount Halifax on November 30 (890.61317/11–3045).↩