894.628/6–2647: Telegram
The Political Adviser in Japan (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
171. Cite C–53639. We understand Australian Mission here is releasing to local foreign and Japanese press statement made in Canberra by Evatt 23 June as follows:
“On 7th August, 1946 the Japanese Government was authorized by SCAP to undertake a whaling expedition to the Antarctic during the 1946–47 season. The principal reasons given for the authorization were the shortage of food in Japan and the world shortage of oils and fats.
This action was taken unilaterally. There was no prior consultation with interested Allied Governments such as Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Norway.
The Australian Government immediately made strong representations to the United States against the proposed form of the expedition, basing its objections on grounds of past prejudicial action by Japanese ships to Australian security, on earlier violations by the Japanese of the international whaling regulations and the inefficiency and wastefulness of Japanese whaling methods. It was a matter for special concern to Australia that decisions of this kind should be made unilaterally, while the occupation of Japan was still proceeding and in advance of the peace settlement and without reference to the overall question of reparations. The Australian protest was supported by Norway, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
It was brought forward in reply that in the interests of the world food and oil situation at the time and in face of the food situation in Japan, use should be made at once of available Japanese equipment for purpose of an expedition.
After the Australian representations had been made, it was agreed that an Australian observer should accompany the expedition, furthermore, that an international flag should be substituted for a Japanese insignia, that the routes to be taken by the expedition to and from the Antarctic should be notified to interested governments and that the oil obtained as a result of the expedition should be subject to allocation by the International Emergency Food Council wherein the result authorization of the expedition became operative, but for the 1946–47 season only, the United States undertaking that other interested [Page 240] Allied governments would be fully consulted should any further Japanese fishing or whaling activities outside Japanese waters be contemplated. In addition, the United States agreed that the future of the Japanese whaling industry and the disposal of Japanese whaling equipment was a matter for decision by the Allies, including Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
The Australian Government is resolutely opposed to the reestablishment of the Japanese whaling industry in Antarctic waters. Such reestablishment, which in effect means the creation again of a naval potential, is opposed to a just settlement with Japan and should be strenuously resisted by every Allied country which contributed to victory in the Pacific war.
When it became apparent recently that notwithstanding the undertaking regarding consultation which had been given and notwithstanding the adverse report by the Australian observer with the first expedition on Japanese wastefulness and their disregard of international whaling regulations, it was proposed to send a second Japanese expedition to the Antarctic, the Australian Government made the positive and practical suggestion to the United States that a unit of the Japanese whaling fleet be operated by Australia, possibly with the aid of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Norway. It was pointed out to the United States State Department that crews would be available from Australia and that all food, fats and oils from the expedition would be on account of and at the disposal of SCAP for distribution.
The Australian offer was communicated to the State Department and while it was actually under consideration the announcement of a second expedition was made.
In view of the assurances given on more than one occasion that a further Japanese expedition to the Antarctic would not be authorized without adequate prior consultation with interested powers, the decision yesterday to approve of a second Japanese whaling expedition for 1947–48, thereby by-passing the Far Eastern Commission, which alone is supposed to determine questions of policy and which actually has this matter on its business sheet for next Thursday, is opposed to the best long-term Allied interests.
The Australian Government intends to press this question in the Far Eastern Commission in an endeavor to secure a review of the present proposal.
The ultimate disposition of Japanese whaling facilities and equipment, as well as the question of the future of the Japanese whaling industry, must be a matter for Allied consultation and decision. The appropriate place for any decision that may be taken is the peace table. Meanwhile, the Far Eastern Commission should be permitted the opportunity to examine why so fair an offer as that of Australia should not be accepted in principle, subject to such safeguards as SCAP may suggest.”