740.00119 P.W./6–2845

The Secretary of State to the British Chargé ( Balfowr )

The Secretary of State presents his compliments to the British Chargé d’Affaires ad interim and refers to the Embassy’s note dated [Page 990] June 28, 1945 enclosing a copy of a note dated May 15, 1945 from the Royal Norwegian Government36 on the subject of Norway’s claims for reparation by Japan, and requesting the views of this Government as to what answer to the Norwegian note would now be appropriate.

This Government considers that it would be inappropriate at this time and in view of all circumstances to make any commitment to the Norwegian Government beyond assurances already given that account would be taken of the claims of that Government against Japan when claims of the United Nations came to be assessed.37

While it is currently impossible to foresee the basis on which claims for loss suffered by United Nations in the war against Japan will be compensated, experience thus far in dealing with reparations to be paid by Germany38 suggests the complications that will arise in this connection. The United States Government is of the opinion, therefore, that it would be undesirable to make an additional commitment in this regard pending further clarification of procedure to be followed with respect to claims of United Nations against Germany. This Government is, moreover, not prepared to say at this time whether it will be possible to make such a commitment to the Norwegian Government in the future.39

  1. Neither printed.
  2. This was done on April 12.
  3. For documentation regarding reparations from Germany, see vol. iii, pp. 1169 ff.
  4. The Spanish Embassy in its note 190, August 23, 1945, expressed its Government’s desire to submit a claim in due course for reparations from Japan, and the Department took note of this claim in its reply of October 3 (740.00119 PWA 8–2345).