Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Far East, Volume VI

894.30/2–2447

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador of the Soviet Union (Novikov)

confidential

The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Ambassador of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics and has the honor to refer to the proposal of the Soviet Government made in Mr. Lozovski’s letter to the United States Embassy in Moscow on June 1, 1946,⁴⁰ that a commission be formed by representatives of the Soviet, Great Britain, China and the United States to draw up lists of the vessels subject to division. The Soviet Government is informed that complete information regarding the number, condition, and location of former Japanese naval vessels within the Japanese Empire classified as “combatant and of destroyer tonnage or less” is now in the possession of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. Consequently, the United States Government is in a separate communication to the Soviet Government transmitting this information and stating that it is now possible to proceed to the immediate division of certain combatant vessels of the Japanese Navy. The Governments of Great Britain and the Republic of China are being similarly informed. It is recalled that the establishment of a commission was not provided for in the original exchange of communications between Mr. Molotov and Mr. Byrnes⁴¹ on the subject of division of the Japanese naval vessels. In view of these facts, it is the view of the United States Government that the establishment of a four power commission to draw up lists of the vessels to be divided is not now necessary.

With reference to the desire of the Soviet Command that certain Japanese vessels be allocated to it to fulfill tasks relating to the accomplishment of the capitulation of Japan in areas occupied by troops of the Red Army, communicated by Lt. General Derevyanko⁴² to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Tokyo and referred to in the Soviet Embassy’s note of July 13, 1946,⁴³ the United States Government is of the opinion that the vessels to be delivered in accordance with the plan referred to above, will in part fulfill the immediate needs of the Soviet Command.

With reference to the problem of the division of the Japanese merchant fleet, mentioned in Mr. Lozovski’s letter of June 1, 1946, the United States Government is still of the opinion that the final disposition of the Japanese merchant fleet involves the broader problems of reparations and the future economy of Japan, and must depend upon further policy decisions by the Far Eastern Commission.

This communication is transmitted to the Soviet Ambassador for his confidential information.

Washington, February 24, 1947.

40. See telegram 1759, June 5, 1946, from Moscow, Foreign Relations, 1946, vol. viii, p. 526. Solomon Abramovich Lozovsky was Soviet Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.
41. V. M. Molotov, Soviet Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the then Secretary of State James F. Byrnes.
42. Lt. Gen. Kuzma Nikolaevich Derevyanko, Soviet member of the Allied Council for Japan.
43. Foreign Relations, 1946, vol. viii, p. 555.