740.0011 PW (Peace)/12–1547: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Counselor of the Department (Bohlen), at London
us urgent
TelMar 81. For Bohlen from Butterworth. Martel 64, Dec 11. Your tel been considered together with previous interchanges by those in Dept who have had continuing interest in problem of convoking a Jap peace conference and the following constitute our recommendations: We feel that before US makes any further diplomatic moves of importance we need to establish basic pattern our policy and answer fundamental questions whether it would be in interest US to have peace treaty with Japan without Soviet participation and whether in the light of indicated Soviet and Chinese positions regarding procedures any attempt now to negotiate peace treaty with Jap is in US interest. It seems to us we should not attempt persuade Chinese to support original US proposals on voting procedure until we answer those fundamental questions. We are convinced such questions can be answered adequately only after a better understanding has been achieved through consultations between Dept officials and SCAP as proposed Kennan and approved Sec. If conclusion should be that it is not to US interest to have treaty now, we feel it would be preferable to base our position on disagreement caused by three different voting procedures than for us to persuade Chinese support our original proposal and then not proceed with peace treaty. Approach to Chinese at this time implies to them and British our willingness to proceed as [Page 592] soon as practicable with treaty negotiations and would make it more difficult to postpone such negotiations than would be the case if no further diplomatic moves have been taken.
We therefore favor deferring reply to Chinese note and any other action until first-hand consultation with Sec and you. Dept now preparing memo for consideration upon See’s return on two fundamental questions raised in first sentence.
Recommend, in meantime, we let Chinese know informally we shall probably not wish to reply to their note until sometime after CFM meeting ends. [Butterworth.]