740.00119 Control(Japan)/8–2247
The Embassy in Australia to the Department of State
No. 299
[Received September 9.]
The Embassy has the honor to enclose a copy of Dr. Evatt’s report on his mission to Japan which was released August 17, 1947.56 This [Page 284] statement is noteworthy for Dr. Evatt’s commendation of the accomplishments of the occupation authorities and failure to take exception to any phase of their work. After reviewing outstanding features of the occupation Dr. Evatt called for an early peace settlement, stating “the time has come to terminate the present phase of the occupation. General MacArthur and General Robertson have done their primary task of disarmament and demilitarization, and have done it well. The next task, of building on these foundations and creating a peaceful, democratic Japan, requires a different type of supervision and Allied decisions incorporated in a peace treaty.”
Dr. Evatt concluded his five-page statement by saying “Australia desires a peace settlement which will be in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations, give real security from future Japanese aggression, and gradually help to raise the standards of welfare in South and East Asia and the Pacific. This is a policy which all Australians can unite in supporting. It is a firm policy and at the same time a just policy. There is no reason why the Pacific settlement should not provide an example which could be followed in the peace settlement in Europe.”
The Federal Cabinet on August 16 endorsed Dr. Evatt’s recommendation that a peace treaty with Japan be completed at the earliest possible moment. Prime Minister Chifley told the press that the Cabinet had expressed satisfaction with the progress made towards the peace settlement as a result of Dr. Evatt’s mission and approved the general principles and procedures proposed for the peace conference. Mr. Chifley also endorsed the United States suggestion for a two-thirds majority voting procedure and said that any attempt to introduce the veto system must be resisted. He said that the settlement for Japan need not be protracted but could be completed early in 1948. He said further that “the future of Japan depends first on the determination of the Allies to pursue vigorously the objectives set by the Far Eastern Commission, and secondly upon the energy, sincerity and co-operation of the Japanese in carrying out great reforms already planned.”
“The peace treaty should, therefore, be not vindictive, but just and firm. Australia desires to achieve democratically a stable and permanent peace in the Pacific based on security and general welfare. This objective will be furthered if the peace conference is expedited.”
Upon his return from Japan on August 12 Dr. Evatt issued a press statement in the nature of a short summary of the fuller report enclosed. He stated that all his discussions and observations in Japan amply confirmed the soundness of the policy which the Australian Government has consistently advocated towards Japan. A few days [Page 285] later Tokyo despatches announced the resignation of MacMahon Ball, British Commonwealth representative on the Allied Council, and quoted him as saying that he found it impossible to work under Dr. Evatt and would tell why when he returns to Australia.
Dr. Evatt’s apparently complete conversion to support of the policies of General MacArthur caused some eyebrow-lifting in Australia. Prior to Dr. Evatt’s departure leading Australian dailies carried articles condemning American policy in Japan; accusing General MacArthur of making Japan an American colony; making major issues out of the questions of Japanese whaling and Japanese working of phosphate deposits on Angaur Island; and in general giving the impression that Dr. Evatt was going to Japan to “tell off MacArthur.” This publicity was of such volume that Prime Minister Chifley, just before Dr. Evatt’s departure, was impelled to issue a statement denying that there was any friction between Australia and the United States, and expressing gratitude for General MacArthur’s help to Australia.
On arriving in Japan Dr. Evatt voiced approval of the work of MacMahon Ball and the Australian public was therefore mildly surprised at subsequent developments. Some papers handled the matter by suggesting their satisfaction with Dr. Evatt’s discovery that General MacArthur had been following Australian policies all along. A few commentators implied that Dr. Evatt was “taken in” by General MacArthur and still referred to United States policy toward Japan as “soft”; but the former widespread press criticism has been notably lacking during the past few weeks.
- Not printed.↩