Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East, Volume VIII

740.00119 PW/5–1046: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Harriman) to the Secretary of State

top secret
priority

London, May 10, 1946—6 p.m.
[Received May 10—3:17 p.m.]

5030. For the Acting Secretary. ReDept’s 1863 and 1864, February 28.⁹³ We have been given preliminary reply concerning draft treaty on disarmament and demilitarization of Japan.

In handing us this letter Under Secretary Butler⁹⁴ stated that publication in press of fact that draft treaty on Japan had been given to UK, USSR and China made even more urgent necessity of consulting Dominions Governments as mentioned in paragraph 3 of FonOff letter which follows:

• “1. We have been giving careful consideration to the copy of a draft treaty on the disarmament and demilitarization of Japan enclosed in your letter of March 1st, and I am now able to tell you that we welcome in principle the proposals contained in it. In view, however, of Mr. Byrnes’ request that the draft should be handled in strictest confidence, we have given it a strictly limited circulation, and we are therefore not yet in a position to give you final views.
• 2. In particular, no mention of the matter has been made to the Dominions Governments, whom we should be bound to consult before finally committing ourselves. Our view, indeed, is that the Dominions Governments principally concerned, and probably the Government of India, should be signatories of any treaty of the kind proposed since, in addition to the political implications involved, these countries of the Commonwealth are providing the major part of the British Commonwealth occupation force in Japan and would be important contributors to the forces envisaged in Article IV of the draft treaty.
• 3. We had similarly made no mention to the Dominions Governments of the proposed treaty on German disarmament and their first knowledge of it came when Mr. Byrnes tabled the draft recently at Paris. Seeing that they are so closely concerned with the provisions of your draft treaty with Japan, it would be very embarrassing to us if we continued to conceal our knowledge of it from them. Mr. Bevin would, therefore, be very glad to have the concurrence of your Government in communicating it now in strictest confidence to the Dominion Governments and to the Government of India, and to inviting their comments.”

Butler stated Foreign Office had one or two brief remarks re text of treaty. In particular, he suggested clarification of phrase in first paragraph Article I that high contracting parties “shall take steps jointly”. It was felt this might be of somewhat academic interest now inasmuch as most of provisions of Article I re demilitarization of Japan have been carried out. However, US is in special position in Japan and British feel same phrases as would apply to German treaty may not be entirely applicable in this case.

Question was also asked where commission of control provided for in Article II would have its seat. While presumably it would be in Japan, British feel this point might be made definitely clear and expressed preference for having committee sit in Japan rather than merely visit it from time to time.

Sent Dept as 5030: repeated to Paris as 374 for the Secretary.

Harriman

93. See footnotes 9 and 11, p. 152.
94. Nevile Montagu Butler, British Assistant Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.