740.00119 PW/7–1846
The Secretary General of the Far Eastern Commission (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: The Terms of Reference of the Far Eastern Commission provide that one of the functions of the Commission should be to “formulate the policies, principles and standards in conformity [Page 557] with which the fulfillment by Japan of its obligations under the Terms of Surrender may be accomplished.”
It is further provided that when such decisions are made by the Far Eastern Commission, “The United States Government shall prepare directives in accordance with the policy decisions of the Commission and shall transmit them to the Supreme Commander through the appropriate United States Government agency.”
At the twentieth meeting of the Far Eastern Commission held at 2516 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C., on 18 July 1946, the enclosed policy decision relative to Restitution of Looted Property, was unanimously approved.84
As Secretary General of the Far Eastern Commission, I have been instructed to forward this decision to you on behalf of the Commission, in order that the appropriate directives may be prepared and transmitted to the Supreme Commander in accordance with the Terms of Reference.85
In giving his approval to the statement of policy enclosed, the United States representative requested that the following statement be included in the minutes of the Commission meeting, and the Commission agreed to its inclusion:
“At the 23rd meeting of Committee No. 1: Reparations the U.S. member agreed to the rejection of his amendment for the insertion of the words ‘by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers’ in paragraph 1 and 2 of the document but asked that it be recorded in the minutes of the committee and subsequently in the minutes of the Commission meeting that it is recognized that The Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers is the final implementing authority of policy decisions of the Far Eastern Commission.”
Attention is invited particularly to paragraphs 9 and 10 of the enclosed policy decision, in which the Commission requests the United States Government “to forward this statement of policy through the usual channels to States which are not represented on the Far Eastern Commission and within whose territories such looted objects may be found.” The Commission would appreciate, I am sure, information as to action taken in this connection.86
Respectfully yours,
- See footnote 60, p. 528.↩
- On July 22 General Hilldring transmitted a draft directive (based on FEC–011/12, July 18) to SWNCC to be forwarded to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for SCAP, as requested. On October 10 the Far Eastern Commission slightly revised the policy decision; for text, see Activities of the Far Eastern Commission, p. 83. This was sent as a directive, Serial 61, October 16, to SCAP, with instruction that the FEC wished it to be released to the press 48 hours after receipt in Tokyo. (740.00119 P.W./10–1046)↩
- The Siamese Legation and Portuguese Embassy were informed in notes of August 12 and Tokyo was informed on August 23.↩