694.001/8–251: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Political Adviser to SCAP (Sebald)
priority
Topad 170. Sebald from Dulles. Urlets July 20 and 25,1 feel your presentation to Democrats and Socialists adequate and effective. Consider it of utmost importance that Diet mbrs should overwhelmingly and without regard to party support the Treaty. US has carried on an effort without precedent in history to make the Treaty a fair and liberal one free of discriminatory provisions or provisions which wld deny Jap equal opportunity for future. Of course there are some provisions which the Jap do not like, principally territorial. However, they were accepted when Jap accepted the surrender terms and except for Ryukyu and Bonin situation are beyond realm of practical discussion. There is no Jap renunciation of Habomai if in fact Habomai not part of Kuriles. As regards Ryukyu and Bonin Treaty grants Yoshida plea to me that Jap sovereignty should not be renounced, and question of permanent regime for these Islands remains for subsequent determination by the US probably on basis of study to be conducted between signing and ratification.
If Allies are willing to renounce opportunity to gain by taking advantage of Jap’s presently helpless position certainly the Jap ought to be big enough to respond to their forbearance. Also, in the US despite sharp differences of opinion regarding Mac Arthur and other aspects of fonpol there has been bipartisanship re Jap peace treaty which again is something our Senate wld expect Jap Diet to reciprocate having regard to the efforts our nation has made and the criticism it has attracted in other countries in the struggle to seek a liberal and just treaty. [Dulles.]
- Neither printed. In them Ambassador Sebald had detailed his efforts to stimulate support for the peace treaty among the opposition parties. (Tokyo Post Files: 320.1 Peace Treaty)↩