740.0011 P.W. (Peace)/10–647
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Hugh Borton, Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Butterworth)
Subject: Canberra Conference on Japanese Peace Treaty.
Mr. Graves58 called at his own request to leave the attached folder containing:
- 1)
- An oral statement concerning the attached documents
- 2)
- Memorandum by the UK Delegation on the Economic and Financial Provisions of the Japanese Peace Settlement
- 3)
- Appendix on Long-Term Security Controls Over Japan
- 4)
- Appendix on Reparations
- 5)
- Appendix on Disposal of Japanese-Owned Property in Neutral Countries
- 6)
- Appendix on Economic Questions Relative to the Cession of Territories by Japan
- 7)
- Annex on the Review of the Japanese Constitution
- 8)
- Memorandum on Territorial, Political and General Clauses
- 9)
- Memorandum on UK Views on Measures for Control of Japan
Mr. Graves stated that he was delivering this material59 on instruction from his Government and wished to point out that the documents are a purely provisional expression of the views of his Government and should be considered as such. Mr. Graves added, however, that the enclosed memoranda contained ideas which were logical developments of the position already taken by the United Kingdom in the Far Eastern Commission. It was his view that while the United Kingdom might change on certain minor points raised in the attached, they would adhere, in general, to the policies set forth in the documents. Mr. Graves further added that whenever the phrase “consensus of opinion” or “general agreement” was used in the oral communication, it indicated that no formal decisions had been made at the Canberra Conference as such was the usual procedure of Commonwealth meetings. Mr. Graves concluded by saying that as they had consulted on the treaty problems and as they did not wish to give the impression of forming a Commanwealth bloc among the countries to participate in the peace conference, they felt it advisable to inform us of their views at the Conference.
I thanked Mr. Graves for the information and the documents which he left with us and told him that I was sure they would be of great value to us and hoped he would communicate our appreciation to the British Government.
[A memorandum analyzing the contents of the documents will be circulated shortly.]60