Office of the Historian

894.628/1–546: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State

confidential
Moscow, January 5, 1946—3 p.m.
[Received January 5—11 a.m.]

43. ReDeptel 2545, December 17.16 Lozovsky17 has addressed reply dated January 3 to Ambassador’s representations on Japanese fishermen and fish stocks, writing as follows:

“Acknowledging the receipt of your letter dated December 24 addressed to Mr. Vyshinski18 in regard to the return to Japan of the property of Japanese fishing companies and Japanese fishermen remaining on territory occupied by the Red Army, I state the following:

1.
A considerable portion of the property and fish stocks of the Japanese fishing companies, which you mention in your letter, was destroyed during the period of military operations against Japan or proved to be spoiled. The remaining portion of the property and fish stocks was taken by troops of the Red Army as trophies, and used in part for the needs of the Red Army, and also for the supply and satisfaction of the needs of the Japanese population remaining on these territories.
2.
As regards the return of the Japanese fishermen from these territories, the question has been referred at the present time for consideration to the competent Soviet authorities, of whose future decision I shall not fail to inform you.”

Department please repeat to Tokyo for General MacArthur.

Kennan
  1. Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. vi, p. 884.↩
  2. Solomon Abramovich Lozovsky, Soviet Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs.↩
  3. Andrey Yanuaryevich Vyshinsky, Soviet Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs.↩