740.00115 Pacific War/7–246: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in China
397. Please communicate promptly text following note to FonOff:
“At the Joint Conference on repatriation of Japanese held at Tokyo on October 25–27, 1945, in which Chinese representatives participated, it was agreed that the Chinese Government would be responsible for the repatriation of Japanese disarmed military personnel and civilians from the China Theatre. Consonant with the terms of the Potsdam Declaration32 and in continuation of the constant and close collaboration between our two Governments, the United States Government has been assisting and will continue to assist the Chinese Government in effecting this repatriation and thus eliminating Japanese influence from China. The United States Government notes with gratification that this repatriation, in general, is proceeding satisfactorily.
The Chinese Government will readily agree that most, if not all, Japanese civilians, if permitted to remain in China, might secretly strive for the resurgence of Japanese power and influence there. This danger would be particularly grave in view of the dominant position the Japanese have held in Formosa, Manchuria and many parts of North China. The surest way to eliminate this danger would be to repatriate all Japanese from China. On the other hand, the Chinese authorities in several areas are understood to have expressed a need for the continued services of certain Japanese technicians. These Chinese authorities have indicated that, because of the professional and technical skills possessed by these Japanese technicians, and because of the inadequate numbers of trained Chinese able to take their places, these Japanese technicians are indispensable to the economic life and general well-being of certain important areas of China.
The United States Government remains of the opinion that in keeping with the Potsdam Declaration and with a view to the elimination of all risk of a possible resurrection of baleful Japanese influence in Chinese territory, all Japanese nationals remaining in China should be repatriated within the near future. Granted that there may be valid reasons for the temporary retention by the Chinese Government of certain Japanese civilians with special qualifications, the United States Government nevertheless feels it highly desirable that the great majority be repatriated as soon as possible, including all those who desire repatriation, and that only those Japanese be permitted to remain who are clearly indispensable on grounds of their professional or technical qualifications for which there is no Chinese equivalent and who, at the same time, are able to demonstrate by their past records that they do not represent any threat to the peace and security of China. Specifically, those specialists who are permitted to remain should be able to demonstrate conclusively that they have no ownership or important managerial status, that they are without substantial property interests in China and are not representatives of such interests, and that they have never been members of chauvinistic societies or parties.
[Page 906]The United States Government has made available considerable United States shipping and personnel in order that the repatriation of Japanese may be expeditiously accomplished. These resources are being withdrawn from this service as they become excess to requirements. Every effort should be made to repatriate the maximum number of Japanese while the organization and means are readily available.
The United States Government is confident that the Chinese Government shares in the views expressed above and takes this opportunity to renew its assurances of its desire to assist the Chinese Government in every appropriate way in implementing its program of repatriating Japanese civilians resident in China and in eliminating every trace of pernicious Japanese influence from the continent of Asia.”
For your info above note reflects US policy embodied in paper approved by SWNCC June 25. Please radio date note delivered FonOff.33