740.00119 Control (Japan)/5–748
The Secretary of State to the Australian Ambassador (Makin)
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note No. 171/48 of May 7, 19481 regarding the proposal of the Australian Government to reduce the Australian contingent of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan to one army battalion and one air force squadron with the necessary administrative units for their maintenance of an approximate overall strength of 2,750.
The Government of the United States notes that the proposed reduction of the Australian contingent would leave a token British Commonwealth Force which would be inadequate for the occupation of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force Area. This area comprises 20,000 square miles and contains a Japanese population of over 10,000,000 persons. The proposed reduction would necessitate redeployment of United States forces now in Japan.
It is appreciated that the MacArthur-Northcott Agreement2 provides that the British Commonwealth Occupation Force may be withdrawn, wholly or in part, upon agreement between the United States and Australian Governments or upon six months’ notice by either party. However, in view of the fact that the United States is unable to provide additional troops to the Supreme Commander for the Allied [Page 828] Powers in Japan to take over the occupation of the British Commonwealth Occupation Area, it is requested that the Australian Government give favorable consideration to maintaining in Japan a British Commonwealth Force equivalent to one United States Infantry Division (less one Regimental Combat Team) plus necessary service troops, at least until such time as it may be determined that a substantial reduction may be made in the occupation forces.
Accept [etc.]