740.00116 P.W./10–445: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 4—3:30 p.m.]
10327. From Hodgson. Lord Wright informed Executive Committee of War Crimes Commission on October 3, that Colonel Isham, representative of British War Office, had proposed conference between representatives on special Far East and Pacific Committee of Commission and representatives of respective Judge Advocates General of British, Indian, and Australian armies, representatives of the British War Office and special representatives of any government which wished to send them to “informally exchange view” in respect of present [Page 940] position concerning Japanese war crimes and the measures which should be taken to investigate, apprehend, surrender and try Japanese war criminals. Assistant Australian representative stated that he believed that recommendations contained in document C.145(1)36 should be considered at meeting as he felt that sufficient time had elapsed for representatives to hear from their governments. He also suggested releasing these recommendations to the press. The proposals of the assistant Australian representative were opposed by me. When pressed by Ambassador Koo as to precise purpose of the conference, Lord Wright said that it would be restricted to an exploratory discussion to merely exchange views which he believed to be urgently needed. Meeting for this purpose was fixed for October 16. [Hodgson.]