740.0011 PW (Peace)/12–2449
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Butterworth)
At the Secretary’s suggestion, I called at Ambassador Wrong’s residence this afternoon and handed him a copy of the memorandum which the Secretary had given to the British Ambassador this morning. I reviewed with the Canadian Ambassador the attempt this Government had made two and a half years ago with a view to bringing about a Japanese peace treaty and summarized the discussions with Mr. Bevin and the appropriate part of today’s conversation with Sir Oliver Franks. Ambassador Wrong was appreciative of the step taken, indicating that he would send the memorandum to Mr. Pearson by confidential mail and would make clear that it was merely for his background guidance and not for specific reference at the Conference.
By recounting to the Canadian Ambassador that part of the Secretary’s conversation with the British Ambassador which dealt with the Anglo-American arc of interest extending from Japan through the Philippines and Southeast Asia to India, I had an opportunity to reinforce the recent discussion which Mr. Rusk had had with Ambassador Wrong in terms of the Commonwealth taking greater initiative and responsibility for the mainland promontory of Southeast Asia. The Canadian Ambassador obviously had this question very much in mind because it was he who referred to Mr. Rusk’s previous discussion with him.