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269703281
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Memorandum from Secretary of State James Byrnes to President Harry S. Truman
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1
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269703281
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document
title
Memorandum from Secretary of State James Byrnes to President Harry S. Truman
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President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)
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269703281
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27
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1946-02-27
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2
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1946
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DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E)
Dept. of State letter, Aug. 10, 1972
NARS Date 7.3.75
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
TOP
WASHINGTON
February 27, 1946
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
Subject: Peace Treaty regarding Japan
I will hold the proposed treaty as to Japan until I have a chance
to talk further with you. I do this because of your statement that our
place in Pacific affairs should be a dominant one in the peace as in
the war. I want to be certain that we are in agreement.
In the ordinary course of events a peace treaty will be agreed to.
Presumably, we will then withdraw our troops from Japan. The proposed
treaty would provide the method of control to be thereafter exercised
by the four Governments.
The only way in which we could have a dominant position in Japan
in the days following the adoption of a peace treaty would be to provide
for the continued occupation by our troops, or by troops of the four Gov-
ernments under the direction of our Government. I am convinced the
other Governments will not agree to this latter suggestion. They agreed
to our appointment of a supreme commander for the purpose of accepting
the surrender of the Japanese and directing the administration pending
a peace conference.
I think we have to decide whether after a peace conference we will
withdraw all troops from Japan or whether we will provide for an army
of occupation for an indefinite period and the composition of such army
or whether we will adopt the alternative plan suggested in the proposed
treaty.
JOB
ARCHIVES AND
RECORDS
(RERVICE"