740.00119 Control (Japan)/7–2446
The Political Adviser in Japan (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
No. 518
[Received August 8.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to this Mission’s despatch no. 487, July 5, 1946,46 and previous correspondence, in regard to meetings of the Allied Council for Japan, and to forward as an accompaniment five copies each of the Agenda, Summary of Proceedings, and Verbatim Minutes of the ninth meeting of the Council held on July 10, 1946.47
Considerable discussion was held on the subject integration of repatriates into the national life of Japan, continued from the meeting of June 26, 1946. The Chinese Member expressed the opinion that this question is one for the Japanese Government to solve and that a directive should be sent to that Government with the view to having a definite plan formulated for discussion in the Council. This view was also shared by the Soviet Member. The British Commonwealth Member (an Australian) expressed his opinion in a lengthy oral statement to the effect that this subject is one which is intimately connected with the general unemployment problem and with foreign trade. He filed eight general recommendations for improvement of economic conditions which appear in the verbatim minutes, page 7, et seq.
Items 2, 3, 4, and 5 on the agenda were concerned with various health measures and were suggested by the Supreme Commander with a view to obtaining the advice of the Council regarding certain aspects [Page 275] of these important problems. The British Commonwealth, Chinese, and Soviet Members contended that these subjects were inappropriate for discussion in the Council. Item 2, “Maritime Quarantine” was carried forward to a subsequent meeting at the request of the Soviet Member.
In explanation of the question raised by item 6 on the agenda, I made an oral statement based upon information supplied by the Japanese concerning the objectives of the “Japanese Commission on the Investigation of the Courses which Led to War and to Defeat”. After hearing this explanation, the Soviet Member recommended that the Supreme Commander be advised to dissolve the Commission. The Chinese Member was of the opinion that the establishment of this Commission might be a good thing, and that if there were any tendency to “whitewash” some of the war criminals, it would be an easy matter for the Supreme Commander to put a stop to such tendency. The British Commonwealth Member saw difficulties in allowing the Commission to proceed if its findings were inconsistent with Allied pronouncements concerning the cause of the war. Finally, the British Commonwealth Member, when asked directly whether he concurs with the Soviet Members recommendation, hedged by saying that the subject needs to be carefully reconsidered. As United States Member, I stated that I do not concur with the Soviet Member’s recommendation.
On the subject of “Labor Legislation in Japan”, item 7 on the agenda, I made an oral statement concerning the Supreme Commander’s labor policies in Japan. This statement appears on page 23, et seq., of the verbatim minutes. After listening to an explanation by Mr. Cohen of the Labor Division of the Economic and Scientific Section of General Headquarters concerning changes in labor legislation, major labor legislation now in force, and of the rights of trade unions, the Soviet Member read a lengthy statement embodying twenty-two principles which he recommended for the revision and improvement of existing labor legislation. This statement appears on page 31, et seq., of the verbatim minutes. As the Soviet Member’s statement had been given to the press on the previous evening, as most of his recommendations were already in effect, and as his action was obviously an effort to indicate to the public that he was taking the lead in labor reform, I made the statement which is set forth in the verbatim minutes on page 35, et seq. After a recess for luncheon, the British Commonwealth Member, who is inclined to give direct or other support to the Soviet Member as against American policy, stated that he was unable to find signs of Communist propaganda in the Soviet proposals. (This is, of course, a statement of fact. The propaganda aspect of the matter was the Soviet Member’s endeavor to [Page 276] imply that his recommendations were new and needed, and that only the Soviet Union was the champion of the worker). The Soviet Member characterized my oral statement as of “intentionally propagandist character”, in general took strong exception thereto, and reserved the right to refer to this subject at a subsequent meeting.
On the subject of “Government Compensations for the Former Companies of War Industries”, item 8 on the agenda, after hearing an explanation by Commander Akin of the Economic and Scientific Section of General Headquarters, the British Commonwealth and Chinese Members suggested that the item be carried forward to the next meeting. The Soviet Member recommended that no compensation be paid to companies comprising the former war industry of Japan, and that money already so paid to these industries be returned to the Japanese Treasury.
Respectfully yours,