Office of the Historian

894.628/10–1846

The Political Adviser in Japan (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State

restricted
No. 657
Tokyo, October 18, 1946.
[Received November 1.]

Sir: I have the honor to enclose30 a copy of a letter with a supporting memorandum from the Central Liaison Office of the Japanese Government, [Page 346] dated September 13, 1946, to General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, in which it is requested by the Japanese Government that Japanese fishing interests be permitted to operate in the seas off both sides of Kamchatka Peninsula, northwestern part of Bering Sea, and waters around the Kurile Islands. In previous years the Japanese have conducted extensive operations in these areas in part based upon treaty arrangements with Soviet Russia and in part as high seas activities.

There is also enclosed a memorandum from the Natural Resources Section to the Diplomatic Section on this subject. In this memorandum the belief is expressed that interests of the United States would be strenuously opposed to any Japanese fishing operations in the Bering Sea or areas in the vicinity of the Aleutian Islands. It therefore appears to us doubtful that it would be desirable for General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, to forward this request to the Soviet representative in Japan in spite of the emphasis which the Japanese Government has placed on the acute need for additional food supplies and in spite of previous Japanese treaty arrangements with Soviet Russia to fish in these areas.

In this connection it will be recalled that, as reported in our Despatch No. 481, subject “Extension of Japanese Fishing and Whaling Areas,” dated July 1, 1946, the Soviet Government refused an earlier Japanese request to operate fisheries concessions in this general area.

The question of Japanese fishing operations, both on the high seas and in waters of Allied nations, is of such controversial nature and of such international interest that the views of the Department are respectfuly requested in the premises.

Respectfully yours,

George Atcheson, Jr.
  1. Enclosures not printed.↩