Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VII, Part 2

893.01/9–1349

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State

Extracts¹
top secret

[Washington,] September 13, 1949.

Subject: Conversation with Mr. Bevin on the Far East

Participants:	Mr. Bevin
	Mr. Dening
	Mr. Acheson
	Mr. McGhee
	Mr. Butterworth
	Ambassador Jessup
	Ambassador Douglas
	Mr. Satterthwaite

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Japan

We have been thinking about what role Japan should play and about the Peace Treaty. As far as the Treaty is concerned, procedural problems are extremely difficult. If the writing of the treaty were put in the Council of Foreign Ministers, it would undoubtedly get stuck and in any case such a procedure would offend the other States that fought the Japanese war. We cannot have a treaty written for us which we have to sign or which goes into effect anyway if we don’t like it. The only way out we can see is advance preparation with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and prior agreement among us on all the principal provisions. We think we should try to get together through diplomatic means with the Commonwealth countries on what should be in the treaty. We realize there may be difficulty with Australia, but we must try to overcome it.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bevin said that he thought the Canberra conference² of the Commonwealth countries had made a beginning on Japan, though perhaps we didn’t like it possibly because he hadn’t told us enough about it in advance. He said that at that time India was just on the point of leaving the Commonwealth and the situation was very delicate. He said he thought that any meeting with the Commonwealth countries on the subject of the Japanese Peace Treaty should be held in Australia, where the Prime Minister would be present, which would be much better than if Evatt³ were to come to Washington or elsewhere. Bevin said the problem was to get the Commonwealth to underwrite and agree on a treaty for Japan, acceptable to us, so the United States does not need to have veto power. The forthcoming November election in Australia might complicate things, but the Australians have been complaining that the scheduled Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meeting due Australia has not been held. Bevin said he thought he could get the Commonwealth together to write the basic provisions of the treaty which would be satisfactory to us. We should tell the British in advance what our requirements are. After some discussion it was agreed that January might be a good time for the Commonwealth meeting and that meanwhile we could line up our military and other elements of our Government and let Bevin know what sort of treaty we wanted. Bevin then discussed the difficulties which Russia would bring forward on the issue of China and what government of China would take part in the talks on the treaty with Japan. Naturally Russia wants a Communist government of China recognized and while Russia will fight for the Council of Foreign Ministers writing the treaty, they might come in for wider conference of all who were in the war against Japan. Will we permit the Communist government to represent China at the Peace Treaty discussions and will Russia permit a Non-Communist government to represent China? I asked Mr. Bevin if Russia would come to the Peace Conference without veto power. Bevin said he thought they would in order to seize the opportunity thereby afforded of causing trouble in Asia. Russia can give away everything in Japan while the United States cannot. I said we don’t want to have to agree to a treaty which Russia approves. Mr. Bevin agreed and then suggested that I talk to Nehru. He pointed out that India needs food, is 6 years behind on its irrigation projects, and needs our help. Perhaps under the circumstances Nehru can help us on the Japanese Treaty. I told Mr. Bevin that Mrs. Pandit hasn’t said what Nehru will raise when he comes to Washington. Bevin then said that he did not think that Nehru would go against us and reiterated that there would be a meeting of the Commonwealth in January, (this time he mentioned Colombo rather than Australia) and that the British would need our views before then. I agreed to give them to him.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1. For other portions of this memorandum, see vol. ix, pp. 81–85.
2. The Commonwealth Conference at Canberra met from August 26 through September 2, 1947. For related documentation, see Foreign Relations, 1947, vol. vi, pp. 446–595, passim.
3. Dr. Herbert V. Evatt, Australian Minister for External Affairs.