694.00/1–1450: Telegram

The Ambassador in Ceylon ( Satterthwaite ) to the Secretary of State

secret

35. Mytel 31, January 13.1 Following is text message from Bevin2 for Secretary as handed me by Barkley3 last evening.

(Verbatim Text.) “I said that as the Ambassador was doubtless aware Mr. Acheson had expressed to me4 some concern lest Asian members of the Commonwealth might be found in opposition to US and UK if a Japanese Peace Conference was held with considered views of US Government on main principles to be incorporated in a peace treaty with Japan before this conference took place, and in the event we had been considerably handicapped by our ignorance of the US attitude. In light of discussions in the conference it had been agreed that the members of the Commonwealth should coordinate their views on the substance of the Japanese Peace Treaty through a working party which would develop in London and consist of High Commissioners supported by experts. Mr. Acheson would be able keep in touch with me and I would, of course, keep him informed of the progress of our deliberations. These discussions would be confined to members of the Commonwealth and would be designed to work out an agreed policy and to avoid any risk of a split within the Commonwealth.”

Comment: Although Bevin himself stated that message was for Secretary’s eyes only and emphasized importance of avoiding any leak, present text is classified secret and has apparently been transmitted various British Missions. Perhaps only interesting point left out was Bevin’s remark that Washington had indeed been suggested as place working party should meet (mytel 29 January 12)1 but that it would hardly do for a Commonwealth committee have its headquarters there.

Satterthwaite
  1. Not printed.
  2. Ernest Bevin, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, was in Colombo for the Commonwealth Conference of Foreign Ministers held January 9–14, 1950.
  3. Possibly Roderick Edward Barclay, Private Secretary to Mr. Bevin.
  4. Apparently by means described in Mr. Acheson’s memorandum of his conversation held in Washington December 24, 1949, with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the United States, Sir Oliver Franks. Text is printed in Foreign Relations, 1949, vol. vii, Part 2, p. 924.
  5. Not printed.