740.00116 PW/11–2248: Airgram
The Acting Political Adviser in Japan (Sebald) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 4, 1949.]
A–232. Reference is made to the Department’s telegram 399, November 20, 10 p. m.,1 on the subject of a statement to be made at the consultation meeting with the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers scheduled for 11:30 a. m. today.
After due consideration of the Department’s opinion and advice as contained in the reference telegram, including a discussion with General MacArthur, I made the following statement: “I have no change to recommend.”
For the Department’s information, the recommendations of the Representatives in Tokyo of the Far Eastern Commission nations may be summarized as follows:
Australia, represented by Mr. Patrick Shaw: No change, but would be content with any reductions made in sentences.
Canada, represented by Dr. E. Herbert Norman: Would not be opposed to any reductions of sentences.
China, represented by General Shang Chen: No change.
France, represented by Lieutenant General Zinovi Pechkoff: Officially recommended no change, but filed a personal plea recommending clemency.
India, represented by Mr. B. N. Chakravarty: All death sentences to be commuted to life imprisonment.
The Netherlands, represented by Baron Lewe van Aduard: Favored mitigation of sentences, particularly in the cases of Umezu and Hata, to be reduced to 10 years’ imprisonment each; Shigemitsu, to be reduced to two and one-half years’ imprisonment, dating from the arraignment; [Page 898] Togo, to be reduced to 10 years’ imprisonment; Hirota, to be commuted to life imprisonment.
Philippines, represented by Dr. Bernabe Africa: No change.
U.S.S.R., represented by Lieutenant General Kuzma N. Derevyanko: No change.
United Kingdom, represented by Sir Alvary Gascoigne (who also spoke for New Zealand): No change.
The Supreme Commander afforded each representative ample opportunity to make any comments or recommendations which might be appropriate, but the entire meeting lasted only approximately thirty minutes.
- Not printed.↩