740.00119 Control (Japan)/11–1345
The Chinese Ambassador ( Wei ) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the question of the disposal of the Japanese naval fleet, which I have had occasion to discuss with the officials of your Department.
It will be recalled that in the memorandum on China’s desiderata relating to Japanese reparations, which formed the enclosure of a letter addressed to you by the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Wang Shih-chieh, on September 13 last,54 was stated the desire of the Chinese Government, among other things, to be accorded a liberal percentage of Japan’s reparations to the Allies and a liberal priority in their delivery. This position was based on the extent of the losses sustained by the Chinese people in consequence of their long drawn-out resistance to Japanese aggression. In your reply dated September 15, you were good enough to express your sympathy with the Chinese point of view.
That Japanese ships and vessels of all kinds would constitute one form of Japanese reparations was clearly indicated in the abovementioned memorandum. Because of the total destruction of the Chinese fleet during the war, the Chinese Government stands today [Page 999] in especially urgent need in this regard. It is, therefore, earnestly hoped that the Government of the United States will take into consideration the tremendous losses incurred by the Chinese navy and see its way to subscribe to the allotment to China of a larger share of the balance of the Japanese fleet than is apportioned to the other leading Allies, namely, the United States, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Kingdom.
If the other Allied Governments should feel that the existence of special circumstances may render it difficult for them to comply with China’s wishes in full, the Chinese Government would be disposed to accept, as an alternative, the allocation to China of whatever balance there may be after the vessels have been divided among the Four Powers. It is, however, to be understood that the above arrangement will not constitute a precedent so far as the future determination of other forms of Japanese reparations is concerned.
I should be grateful if you would be good enough to give early and favorable consideration to the above request.
I avail myself [etc.]
- Not found in Department files; Dr. Wang and Mr. Byrnes were in London for the meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers.↩