701.0094/4–1846: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Political Adviser in Japan (Atcheson)
258. Department has received communication from Czechoslovak Embassy inquiring necessary procedure for sending to Japan an official Czechoslovak representative to undertake consular and eventually diplomatic duties in connection with Czechoslovak nationals in Japan.
This request raises question of representation in Japan of non-enemy countries neither neutrals nor participants in the occupation. It would seem that such countries should be given treatment comparable at least to that accorded neutrals and consequently should be permitted to maintain “Diplomatic Representatives” functioning on a governmental level. It would of course be understood that such representatives would carry on relations with the Japanese Government only through SCAP and that their status would be identical to that already prescribed for neutrals by SCAP.
It would furthermore appear desirable for such countries which already have military liaison officers attached to SCAP to maintain unified establishments if “Diplomatic Representatives” are appointed, combining their military and civilian personnel.
[Page 211]You are requested to discuss this matter with SCAP and to notify Dept so that appropriate reply may be made to Czechoslovak Embassy and to subsequent inquiries of similar nature.70
- SCAP’s concurrence in principle with the Department’s suggestion was reported in telegram 203, May 6, 1946, from Tokyo, but the critical situation in Tokyo due to inadequate facilities was pointed out, to discourage representatives of non-enemy countries from going to Japan before late 1946 (701.0094/5–646).↩