740.00119 Control (Japan)/12–1746
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State
No. 2999
[Received January 2, 1947.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that in November 1946 Mr. D. F. MacDermot, Head of the Japan and Pacific Department of the British Foreign Office made oral inquiry in regard to the status of the draft treaty on the disarmanent and demilitarization of Japan which had been proposed by the Secretary of State to Mr. Bevin by way of a communication from this Embassy to Mr. Bevin dated March 1, 1946. Reference to the Embassy files disclosed that the last development on this subject had been the transmission by this Embassy to Mr. Bevin of a communication under date of June 14, 1946, to which there was attached a revised draft of the proposed treaty. In this same letter Mr. Bevin was informed that the Secretary of State had authorized the release to the press of the revised draft during the ensuing week. From information available to the Embassy, it appears that the revised draft treaty was released to the press on June 21, 1946.
With a view to ascertaining the sequence of events as reflected in the records of the Foreign Office it was suggested that Mr. MacDermot might wish to draft a letter to the Embassy on the subject. This Mr. MacDermot has now done in a communication dated December 13, 1946, a copy of which is enclosed.65
It will be observed from Mr. MacDermot’s letter that the Foreign Office now desires information in regard to the present status of the draft treaty. In particular, as will be noted from the concluding paragraph of Mr. MacDermot’s letter, information is desired (1) with respect to the British proposal that the Dominion Governments and probably the Government of India be included among the signatories of the treaty, (2) with respect to the reactions, if any, of the Chinese and Soviet Governments, and (3) with respect to what further action the Department may be contemplating in regard to the treaty.
If the Department feels that it is in a position to respond in whole or in part to the queries of the Foreign Office, the Embassy would appreciate the receipt of the Department’s instructions on the subject.
Respectfully yours,
First Secretary of Embassy
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