694.001/7–2151: Airgram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Paris 1
A–104. Following telegram despatched Manila, Canberra, Rangoon, New Delhi, Wellington, Karachi, Djakarta and Colombo on July 12:
“Fr Emb Wash has requested Dept to submit draft Jap treaty to three Assoc States of IC and to invite representatives those States to sign treaty along with other allies engaged in hostilities against Japan. Dept sees no objection to submission draft treaty to Assoc States IC. Further Dept favorably inclined even before Fr request recd, include Assoc States IC as signatories because: (a) they are constitutional heirs of power (Fr) at war with Japan (this formula has been used for inclusion Indo); (b) it wld contribute to internatl reputation Assoc States as sovereign and independent members Fr Union. Dept disinclined, however, to include Assoc States if their inclusion wld result in refusal other Asian states to sign Jap treaty with them. Dept aware that certain Asian states such as India and Indo are unsympathetic the Assoc States but is not certain in absence your advice that this lack of sympathy wld extend to refusal to sign treaty shld IC States do so.
“Pls ascertain as discretely and expeditiously as possible attitude govt to which you are accredited this matter.”
Embassy New Delhi has reported that GOI would be disinclined to sign Treaty if Associated States did so, Embassy Djakarta reports that Indo Govt considered inclusion Associated States as signatories Treaty would be serious mistake as it would alienate other Asian states; it did not, however, state that it would not sign in event Associated States included. Embassy Colombo reports Government Ceylon no objections Indochinese signatories. Phil Govt preoccupied with its objections to reparations clause, revealed no strong position question Indochinese. Australia no objection. New Zealand considered Associated States should sign sometime after general signing. Karachi reported that Pakistan Government, while well disposed toward Indo-Chinese [Page 1218] do not regard them as sovereign and would be embarrassed by their presence at Peace Conference.
Department of course has no objections your placing Associated States in receipt copy Treaty. Final decision as to inclusion Associated States must unfortunately be delayed until attitude of India and the Philippines finally determined. If, for example India and the Philippines do not sign it is possible if not probable that Indonesia and Burma would not do so. In such an event Department at moment favorably inclined to inclusion Associated States in order maximize number oriental signatories. If, however, India, Indonesia and Burma will sign only if Associated States do not Department would be inclined toward arranging for participation some other manner.2
Suggest it might be helpful meanwhile for you to indicate to Associated States that identity of signatories has not yet been determined and that they will be informed of pertinent developments as rapidly as possible.
- Airgram drafted by William S. B. Lacy, Director of the Office of Philippine and Southeast Asian Affairs.↩
-
In telegram 677, to Paris, July 28, drafted by Mr. Lacy and cleared by Mr. Allison, the Department made it clear that it had informed the French Embassy that it favored inclusion of the Associated States as signatories of the peace treaty. The telegram continued in part:
“Dept believes you shld emphasize to Fr FonOff (a) US desire include Assoc States; (b) ineluctable choice between signatures three Assoc States and no other Asians on the one hand or, treaty with signatories all Asian states except Assoc States; (c) desirability Fr, Vietnamese making energetic efforts to persuade Asian signatories agree to inclusion IC; (d) fact that US accordingly exploring possibility that, shld Asian states prove adamant, formula cld be agreed upon whereby US, UK and Fr cld extend good offices to obtain bilateral treaty between three states and Japan at later date.” (694.001/7–2651)
↩