894.628/7–147
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Northeast Asian Affairs (Borton)
| Participants: | Robert A. Lovett, Under Secretary of State |
| Sir John Balfour, Counselor, British Embassy | |
| Harold [Hubert] A. Graves, Counselor, British Embassy | |
| Hugh Borton, Chief, Division of Northeast Asian Affairs |
Sir John Balfour called at his request to present a note12 on the subject of the second Japanese Antarctic whaling expedition objecting [Page 245] to the action taken by the United States Government authorizing a second whaling expedition without what they consider proper prior consultation and believing that the decision of the whaling expedition should be left to the Far Eastern Commission. The British note concludes that it hopes General MacArthur’s instructions can be countermanded and the question referred back for decision to the FEC and examination of alternative proposals made. The Under Secretary then pointed out that the problem seemed to divide itself into two aspects, namely, that of procedure and that revolving around the question as to whether or not the Japanese should be permitted to whale in the Antarctic. On the procedural question he stated that he regretted any difference of interpretation which might have been given to the action of this Government on May 27 when General Hilldring discussed the problem with representatives of the interested countries, the handing of our aide-mémoire of June 9 to representatives of the same countries and final instruction to SCAP on June 16 concerning authorization of the expedition. Mr. Graves then stated that in discussing the question of whaling in the Far Eastern Commission they had been led to believe that the United States would present a paper on whaling for consideration of the Commission. Mr. Borton then referred to an extract of the minutes of Committee #2 of the Far Eastern Commission of April 4, 1947 which stated that “The United States Member referred to the unofficial proposal made at the 48th meeting that if the Commission would agree to accept a fishing policy based substantially on FEC–035, the United States would give favorable consideration to an FEC paper providing that whaling beyond the area contained in Scapin 1033 should be subject to FEC approval.” Mr. Borton added that when such a statement was made it was not the intention of this Government to present the paper in question and that this may have been the cause for some of the misunderstanding.
Mr. Lovett then outlined the difficulties confronting the Department vis-à-vis Congress in any program which requires expenditure of U.S. funds for assistance abroad and pointed out that the Department would be in an untenable position if it did not support a whaling expedition this year whereby the Japanese would be able to provide themselves with the necessary protein and oil without expenditure to the United States Government.
In answer to a question as to whether enough Allied ships were available this year for catching the total maximum 16,000 blue whale units provided for in the whaling Convention, Mr. Graves answered that both the British and the Norwegians had begun construction of additional factory ships on the assumption that the consultations and Allied decisions mentioned in the note of this Government of October [Page 246] 4, 194613 would mean that no whaling expedition would take place this year. Mr. Lovett then remarked that if the British had acted on such an assumption they themselves were disregarding the significance of the phrase “Allied decision” and had themselves already decided there should be no expedition regardless of our views in the matter. Mr. Lovett further stated that he felt any action the British might have taken concerning the construction of additional ships should be considered as an ordinary business risk. So far as he could see the issue resolved itself into the simple question as to whether or not the Japanese would be allowed to whale. Mr. Graves stated that if they were allowed to whale in the place of the Japanese they would make available to Japan its normal whale oil requirements, but made no mention of whale meat nor would the proceeds from the other whale oil be available. Mr. Borton added that such an arrangement would not make available as credit in Japan the proceeds from the sale of the remainder of the whale oil. Mr. Lovett concluded by saying that he saw no solution to the problem unless agreement could be reached among the members of the whaling Convention to allow for a catch above the 16,000 blue whale units which, in all probability, would be equivalent to the difference between the 16,000 units and actual amount caught last year.
Sir John Balfour thanked the Under Secretary for his explanation of the position of this Government and requested that this note be given careful consideration.