Office of the Historian

665.94/9–1751: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser to SCAP (Sebald) to the Secretary of State

secret
Tokyo, September 17, 1951—6 p .m.

Topad 571. Re Deptel 405,1 Sept 7, rptd Paris 1454, London 1398, Rome 1136. Despite continuing efforts reconcile basic divergence of views, conversations between Ital mission and Jap Govt re formula for termination state of war and settlement claims still inconclusive. Main point of difference arises from Ital insistence on Jap commitment to settle with Italy on basis principles San Francisco treaty, and strong Jap reluctance to give such commitment.2 Jap Govt now has under consideration compromise formula providing for exchange of notes embodying inter alia mutual undertaking settle outstanding questions “in spirit of reconciliation and trust which inspired” San Francisco treaty, to be accompanied by confidential exchange of ltrs defining above-quoted phrase as meaning “on basis equitable adaptation of those principles set forth in that treaty which may be pertinent in light of special circumstances existing between 2 govts”.

If Jap Govt approves foregoing, which by no means certain, Ital dipl rep plans urge his govt accept this formula as representing maximum concession which can be obtained from Jap Govt.3

Dept pass London, Paris, Rome. Sent Dept, rptd info London unn, Paris unn, Rome unn.

Sebald
  1. Not printed. (694.001/9–551)↩
  2. In telegram 377 of September 1 the Department had included an English translation of an exchange of notes as proposed by Italy. The draft had provided for an end to the state of war between the two countries, for a statement by both powers of intention to conclude an agreement regarding questions between them on the basis of principles contained in the multilateral treaty of peace, and for a declaration by Japan of its willingness to compensate, in such measure as would be later agreed upon, the damage and losses caused to Italy and its nationals in Japan as result of measures taken by Japan after September 8, 1943, the date of Allied armistice with Italy. Italy had proposed that the exchange of notes take place on the date of signature of the multilateral treaty, to take effect when the latter should come into force. (694.001/9–151)↩

  3. In reply the Department stated in telegram 480 to Tokyo, September 21, that it had no objection to the formula proposed in telegram 571 but that it believed Italy would insist on the principles expressed in the Department’s telegram 377 of March 1 (see footnote 2 above). If such were the case, the Mission was to inform the Japanese Foreign Office that the United States believed an exchange of notes along the general lines stated in telegram 377 would be an equitable solution. (665.94/9–2151)

    However, in telegram 630 from Tokyo, (September 25, the Mission reported that Japan and Italy had reached agreement based on the formula proposed in telegram 571 (665.94/9–2551). In despatch 505 of September 29 the Mission enclosed English texts (not printed) of the two sets of notes exchanged by Japan and Italy on the 27th. The Mission commented in part:

    “The negotiations leading up to this exchange of communications were complicated not only by the widely divergent points of view initially held by the Italian and Japanese Governments as to the principles which should govern such a settlement, but also by the marked animus which these negotiations revealed on the part of the Japanese toward what they appeared to regard as the unfriendly efforts of Italy to “cash in” on the defeat of its erstwhile Axis partner and comrade-in-arms.

    “Agreement was finally achieved with the assistance of a formula put forward by this Mission in an effort to provide a mutually acceptable compromise, on the basis of which formula the enclosed final texts were negotiated.” (665.94/9–2951)

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