694.0031/10–2948: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
us urgent
4137. Douglas1 from Nitze: Instructions for USDel participating in mfn conference London beginning Nov 1, with UK and Brit Dominions as follows.
USDel should not consider itself authorized reach any final agreement, without further instruction, regarding terms under which countries participating in this conference are willing commit themselves in providing mfn treatment for Japan. Purpose this conference is to invite full and frank discussion by UK and Dominions regarding reasons they have opposed previous U.S. efforts persuade them to accord Japan mfn treatment. In event UK and Brit Dominions delegations express dissatisfaction over their ignorance of SCAP and U.S. Govt planning for Japanese trade expansion, USDel should, within limits of feasibility, attempt assuage dissatisfaction by providing as full data on trade plans as available. If questions raised re U.S. economic plans and intentions in Japan, USDel should request such questions be formulated precisely as possible so such answers as can be provided at once be given and such answers as require further consideration within U.S. Govt be handled at later time. USDel should point out jurisdiction of FEC is confined to formulation policies appropriate to their responsibilities in occupation of Japan, and that U.S. Govt respects that jurisdiction. Therefore, matters which may be regarded [Page 1041] as being strictly occupation policy problems (not administrative) will not be appropriate for discussion at this conference. However, to extent UK and Brit Dominions reps desire discuss relationship of conduct of economic aspects of occupation as whole to problem of their granting Japan mfn treatment in trade, USDel, with no commitments on its part, should invite fullest possible discussion this problem.
USDel should participate actively in drafting specific provisions for dealing with mfn treatment of Jap trade, including such safeguarding provisions as may be strictly necessary to meet objections, so long as it is made clear such drafts cannot be finally approved at conference itself.
U.S. head of delegation should act as its chairman and procedures of conference should be determined by USDel in consultation with other representatives participating.
Proceedings of conference should be kept secret, with view to eliciting most frank and constructive expression of views, and should be as informal as possible.
- Lewis W. Douglas, Ambassador in the United Kingdom.↩