894.30/7–1346
The Soviet Ambassador (Novikov) to the Acting Secretary of State
The Ambassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics presents his compliments to the Acting Secretary of State and has the honor to communicate the following on instructions from the Soviet Government:
In a letter of the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Lozovski of June 1 addressed to the American Ambassador in Moscow, Mr. W. B. Smith, it was pointed out that [Page 556] in accordance with the proposal of the Government of the United States of America, set forth in the letter of the American Chargé d’Affaires, Mr. Kennan, of April 5, 1946, the Soviet Government had instructed the member of the Allied Council for Japan, Lieutenant General Derevyanko, to approach the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Japan concerning the allocation of a part of the Japanese naval vessels and merchant ships under his control to fulfill the tasks relating to the accomplishment of the capitulation of Japan in the areas occupied by troops of the Red Army. It has now become known that the member of the Allied Council, Lieutenant General Derevyanko, received on June 17 from General MacArthur’s headquarters a letter signed by Mr. Atcheson with a negative answer to the approach to the Supreme Commander on this question. In Mr. Atcheson’s letter it is pointed out that the Supreme Commander General MacArthur has no instructions from his government concerning the allocation of former Japanese vessels to the Soviet Command.
It is further communicated in the letter that in order that the Supreme Commander may decide the question of disposition of Japanese vessels, he must be informed concerning the specific aims for the fulfillment of which these vessels are required by the Soviet Command.
In communicating the foregoing to the State Department, the Embassy cannot fail to express surprise at such an answer by the Deputy of the Supreme Commander, Mr. Atcheson, particularly since the Government of the United States of America has recognized that it is necessary to allocate a part of the former Japanese vessels to the Soviet Command prior to their final division and has recommended that this question be taken up with the Supreme Command.
The Embassy of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is confident that instructions will be issued by the Government of the United States to the Supreme Commander in Japan, General MacArthur, concerning the allocation by him of a part of the former Japanese vessels for the fulfillment of tasks connected with the accomplishment of the Japanese surrender in the areas occupied by troops of the Red Army.