As you will note from our telegram containing the text of portion
of the Minister's statement of 26th February dealing with the
Japanese settlement, we feel that the time is rapidly approaching
when the work of the F.E.C. should be vested in a Pacific Peace
Conference to deal with the problem of the settlement with Japan
and that the signing of the peace settlement would not necessarily
involve immediate withdrawal of the Allied Occupation Forces.

Please discuss the question of the peace settlement with General
MacArthur and ascertain his views on the timing of the Peace
Conference and the matters which would require Allied supervision
following the settlement. [1]