Office of the Historian

740.0011 PW (Peace)/11–447: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State

secret
urgent
Nanking, November 4, 1947—2 p.m.

2189. On afternoon November 3 FonMin informed me that Soviet Government had not delivered any formal reminder to Chinese Government of clause in Sino-Soviet treaty to effect that neither Government should conclude separate peace with Japan without consent of the other. This point had come out, however, in verbal discussion Fon-Min had had with Vishinsky in United States.

FonMin informed me that he was considering (reDeptel 1323, October 31, 2 p.m.82) the advisability of sending a formal proposal to the Foreign Ministers Conference convening on November 25 in London containing the Chinese plan of having a majority of the 11 nations pass on the Japanese Peace Treaty with the right of veto reserved to any of the four principal countries. He requested that I inquire of the Department for an expression of its views on this question. FonMin inquired whether the tension between the American and Soviet Governments was such that it would be expedient to make such a proposal after adjournment of the United Nations and before the Foreign Ministers Conference. The FonMin thought that otherwise it might be desirable to have such a proposal presented early in [Page 565] the FonMins Conference in the hope that either the United States or China, together with the United Kingdom, would put the matter up to Molotov and ask for reply.

FonMin states that in conferences with him Vishinsky had expressed his personal opinion that the Peace Treaty ought to be dealt with entirely by the four principal powers but that he would refer the question to Moscow. The FonMin asked repeatedly if a reply from Moscow had been received but up to the present he has had no word on the matter.

Stuart

[In despatch 2557, November 12, from London, the Embassy reported a conversation with the British Foreign Office concerning the Chinese position as explained to the British Ambassador in China (Stevenson) by the Chinese Foreign Minister. In addition, the Chinese Foreign Minister had stated his disagreement with General MacArthur about the advisability of immediate withdrawal of occupation forces from Japan when a peace treaty became effective. (740.0011 PW(Peace)/11–1247)]

  1. Not printed.↩