740.00119 Control (Japan)/10–3145: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Acting Political Adviser in Japan ( Atcheson )

71. Chinese Embassy in Washington has communicated informally to Department desire of Ministry of Education to explore possibility of making good losses sustained from enemy action by obtaining scientific books and equipment found in defeated countries.

Kindly indicate your impression whether such material still exists in Japan in important amounts, and advise whether plans are being made for disposition. Do you know of any direct approach to this question made there by Chinese Government?

Except for items identifiable as looted from China, any such request must, of course, be handled as purchase by Chinese or as reparations to be decided upon by inter-governmental agreement.

Byrnes