894.628/8–2047
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Aide-Mémoire
The Department of State desires to refer to the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire of August 20, 1947,75 in which it is stated that the British Government would be grateful if the United States would provide certain assurances regarding the forthcoming Japanese-manned Antarctic whaling expedition and regarding the manner of authorization of any further such expeditions prior to the peace settlement.
The Government of the United States reaffims its assurance that adequate steps, including the assignment of SCAP representatives, will be taken by the Supreme Commander during the 1947–48 whaling expedition to ensure scrupulous observance of all pertinent international whaling regulations, and that Allied observers will be welcomed as before. The British Government is further assured that all supplies of whale oil obtained by the expedition will be made available for allocation by the International Emergency Food Council.
The Government of the United States regrets, however, that it cannot provide the requested assurance that no further Japanese Antarctic whaling expeditions will be authorized prior to the peace settlement without the concurrence of the Far Eastern Commission. The United States Government must take account of the possibility [Page 302] that the considerations which necessitated authorization of the forthcoming expedition will be present in equally pressing form next year, and believes that the Supreme Commander’s freedom of action to meet the situation presented at that time should be preserved. The British Government and other interested governments will be immediately advised should the Supreme Commander contemplate authorization of an expedition next year, and such views as they may care to submit in the matter will be forwarded to him for his careful consideration.
- Not printed.↩