740.00119 P.W./9–2746: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Political Adviser in Japan (Atcheson)
501. Following is extract from minutes of meeting Reparations Committee Sept. 23:
In reply to an inquiry by the Netherlands member regarding the [Page 570] procedure for sending missions to Japan in connection with the restitution and reparations programs, the U.S. member made the following statement:
“As indicated in C1–002/10, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers has invited each member nation of the Far Eastern Commission desiring to do so to establish in Tokyo an accredited permanent representation to operate under the executive authority and operational control of the Supreme Commander, such representation not to exceed five individuals from each represented government who would be capable of acting on routine matters pertaining to reparations removals, restitution, or any other relevant matter which would otherwise require the visit of individual missions.
A further communication from the Supreme Commander dated 20 August 1946 indicates that the Supreme Commander has no objection to permanent representation in Japan by claimant nations not to exceed five persons whose work would generally be on restitution matters until about 1st October 1946 by which time it was hoped that the reparations program would be sufficiently advanced to utilize Allied representation. Only the five-man missions described in C1–002/10 were desired and equal privileges will be given the missions of each country.
The U.S. Government feels able to give an assurance that full cooperation will be afforded by the Supreme Commander to representatives of member countries of the Far Eastern Commission in undertaking such investigations in Japan as the Far Eastern Commission deems necessary. Full opportunity will be afforded by the Supreme Commander for inspection by representatives of claimant Governments of industrial facilities declared available for removal from Japan, such inspection to take place under such auspices and terms as are mutually satisfactory to the Far Eastern Commission and the Supreme Commander.
It is suggested that member countries, desiring to send technical personnel to Japan for the purposes authorized above, request, through their foreign missions in Japan, clearance from the Supreme Commander for assignment of such personnel to those foreign missions in Japan.”