Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Far East, Volume VI

740.00119 PW/5–1547

Memorandum by Mr. John K. Emmerson,⁸⁸ Special Assistant to the Chief of the Division of Northeast Asian Affairs (Borton), to the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent)

confidential

[Washington,] May 15, 1947.

The knottiest problem now facing the Far Eastern Commission is the determination of national percentage shares of reparations to be obtained from Japan. After months of discussion it was finally decided that on Monday, May 12, each member of the Reparations Committee would present the percentage which his country claimed from the total reparations approved. Accordingly, at the meeting on Monday each member of the Committee made a statement explaining his country’s contribution to the war against Japan and supporting his claim for a share of reparations. The Australian representative stated that in view of his Government’s statements made at the previous Commission meeting that the determination of percentage shares of reparations lay outside the competence of the Far Eastern Commission, he was not in a position to present a percentage for Australia. The percentages presented were as follows:

Australia	*
Canada	1½
China	40
France	12
India	18
Netherlands	15
New Zealand	2
Philippines	15
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics	14
United Kingdom	25
United States	34
	176½

While the total of 176½% means that the problem is still far from solution, the percentages actually were more modest than most members had expected.

On May 12, following the regular meeting of the American Delegation of the FEC, General McCoy, Dr. Blakeslee, Mr. Martin, Mr. Dickover, Mr. Barnett⁸⁹ and I discussed the next step to be taken towards solving the percentage problem. It was agreed that there was little prospect of more than a majority of the Far Eastern Commission countries presenting schedules of the 11 national percentages. Various alternatives were discussed, including the proposal made by Sir George Sansom⁹⁰ approximately a year ago that General McCoy should present a list of percentages in his capacity of Chairman of the Commission. Mr. Barnett suggested that as this procedure presented certain disadvantages, another method would be for him, Mr. Barnett, to present a list of 11 percentages to the Reparations Committee purely in his personal capacity. These percentages would not be the official United States list but would be near enough to make the list a responsible one. Dr. Blakeslee said that we should avoid any action which might be construed to be the “spearhead” of an attack on the USSR. It is clear, however, that Mr. Barnett’s list was not aimed particularly at the USSR since percentages of several other countries were just as drastically reduced. General McCoy finally agreed to Mr. Barnett’s proposal.

At the meeting on Wednesday, May 14, considerable discussion was held as to ways and means of reducing the lists of percentages to 100%. After numerous suggestions had been presented and rejected, including one by Mr. Graves⁹¹ that General McCoy present a “Chairman list”, Mr. Collins, the Canadian representative, suggested that the U.S. representative might contribute much to the progress of discussions if he presented a list purely in his personal capacity. This suggestion was greeted with enthusiasm by most of the members. Only the Soviet representative objected to it. A vote was taken and 10 members voted to invite Mr. Barnett to present his list with the Soviet member voting against the motion.

Before presenting his list, Mr. Barnett emphasized that his schedule differed from the U.S. position and that he was presenting it solely with a view to expediting Committee action. He did say, however, that he had taken into consideration extensive statistical work which had been done within the U.S. Government as well as the political factors, as he had come to know them during 15 months of conversations.

The list of percentages presented by Mr. Barnett follows:

Australia	9
Canada	2
China	2592
France	2
India	5
Netherlands	5
New Zealand	2
Philippines	9
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics	3
United Kingdom	9
United States	29
	100

There was no discussion of Mr. Barnett’s list and the Committee decided to postpone consideration of percentages until its meeting on Wednesday, May 21st. It was apparent that there was general approval of the action of the U.S. member in presenting a list which added up to 100% and in thus deflating a number of percentages which were out of all reason.

88. Mr. Emmerson had been appointed First Secretary of Embassy in the Soviet Union on May 1. He was a member of the U. S. delegation to the Far Eastern Commission.
89. Australia submitted a percentage of 28% at the meeting on May 14th. [Footnote in the original.]
89. Erie R. Dickover and Robert W. Barnett were also members of the U.S. delegation to the Far Eastern Commission.
90. British Minister and representative on the Far Eastern Commission until his retirement May 22.
91. Hubert A. Graves was British alternate representative on the Far Eastern Commission.
92. On May 22 the Chinese Minister stated that this figure was not acceptable to China (740.00119 PW/5–2247).