Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Great Britain Sir Oliver Franks, and W. Walton Butterworth

E-4 279 a DEPARTMENT OF STATE 335 C 0 Memorandum of Conversation P Y DATE: December 24, 1949 SUBJECT: Japanese Peace Treaty ARCHIVES SERVICE" RECORDS ARD E PARTICIPANTS: Sir Oliver Franks, British Ambassador The Secretary Mr. Butterworth, Assistant Secretary, FE COPIES TO: S/S G conf EUR FE ero 1-1493 Following my talk with General Bradley and General Burns, I asked the British Ambassador to come to see me. I explained that in view of the imminence of Mr. Bevin's departure by boat for Ceylon, I wished to discuss with him what could be explained to Mr. Bevin about the nature of the problems with which we were faced in considering a possible Japanese peace treaty I read him the prepared statement and emphasized its informal nature and the fact that it was addressed to him. I pointed out the adverse repercussions which would flow from any publicity emanating from the Ceylon Conference to the effect that the United States was holding back on proceeding with a Japanese peace treaty; that it was in all of our interests that it should be fully appreciated by everyone, including the Japanese, that it was the preda- tory and uncooperative attitude of Soviet Russia that was at the root of our difficulties. It was essential that the Japanese should understand this clearly and not be misled by any contrary propaganda. I also pointed out the undesirability of Mr. Bevin becoming at the Ceylon Conference the spokesman of the American point of view as defined in this memorandum. To all this the British Ambassador readily assented. He volunteered to send a telegram to Mr. Bevin explaining the whole situation to be followed by a letter enclosing the memorandum, it being understood that the memorandum DECLASSIFIED was E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, 7.33.75 scarn 105 1 By NLT- He NARS Date 4.27.76