CONTROL MACHINERY FOR JAPAN
As you will have seen from reports of discussions in the Council
of Foreign Ministers, the Soviet Delegation have proposed the
establishment of an Allied Control Council in Japan consisting of
Representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, China and
the Soviet Union but the United States Delegation have declined to
discuss the proposal.

2. The United States Delegation have pressed us strongly to agree
to their proposal for a Far Eastern Advisory Commission in
Washington (my telegram 28th August D No. 1538) [1], if only to
forestall Soviet pressure for a Four Power Control Council in
Japan which would be embarrassing to the United States Government.

The Foreign Secretary urged on the United States Secretary of
State that if the suggestion for a control council in Japan were
not to be pursued, the proposed Advisory Commission in Washington
ought to be made a really effective body with the function in
particular of approving directives on non-military matters before
issue to General MacArthur and with power to transfer headquarters
to Tokyo. Clause 6 of the proposed terms of reference should also
be amended so that continued existence of the Commission should
not be at the mercy of a single Power. [2] India should also be
included.

3. The United States Delegate made it clear that the United States
Government were firmly determined not to have a Control Commission
in Japan on the Berlin model or indeed any Commission which would
be subject to veto of an individual power. Subject to this,
however, they were ready to consider any amendments to the
proposed terms of reference of the Advisory Commission which we
liked to suggest since they were most anxious to get the policy
towards Japan on to a collective basis and to put a speedy end to
the present anomalous situation.

4. But Mr. Byrnes urged that any proposal at this stage to amend
the terms of reference suggested by the United States Government
or even any reservation of the right to propose amendments would
in all probability lead to the Soviet Government proposing other
amendments and the whole field would be opened up to embarrassing
international discussion and controversy and further delay would
ensue. He therefore made a strong appeal to us to trust the United
States Government by agreeing without reservation to the United
States proposal exactly as made. Once the Commission had been
constituted it would be open to us to propose in Washington any
amendments which we thought essential.

5. The matter has been considered by Cabinet who felt it right, in
order to avoid further indefinite delay, to authorise the Foreign
Secretary to accept the United States proposal for a Far Eastern
Advisory Commission. He has accordingly informed Mr. Byrnes that
we are prepared to agree that the proposed Commission should be
called together in Washington at the earliest practicable date,
that we agree to membership as proposed but must request that
India be also included and a representative of India be invited to
opening meeting; and that it is our understanding that it shall be
within the power of the commission to determine whether it shall
continue to meet in Washington or in Tokyo.