F.E.C. 137 Japanese Whaling.

1. Major General Hilldring, Assistant Secretary of State, today
discussed Japanese whaling with representatives of Australia, New
Zealand, United Kingdom, and Norway. He said the United States
Government was desirous of having another Antarctic expedition
this year using Japanese ships, equipment, and men, but under
S.C.A.P. control as last year.

The main reason was to reduce the enormous financial burden on the
United States Treasury by providing food and saving foreign
exchange. He admitted criticism made by the Australian observer in
his report that insufficient oil had been extracted, but said that
facilities would be modified this year to permit the necessary
processing. He guaranteed that no violation of International
conventions would be allowed, and said Allied Inspectors would be
welcome (instead of only S.C.A.P. Inspectors as last year).

Hilldring emphasized again and again that the sole object was to
reduce the drain on the United States Treasury to finance Japanese
essential imports.

2. Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and Norwegian
representatives all vigorously opposed the expedition and left no
doubt in Hilldring's mind that their Governments would not agree
to it. The arguments set out in your cables were pressed. The
Australian representative emphasized that Australia desired
Japanese Whaling ships and equipment as reparations as soon as
possible, preferably in time for use by Australia in the coming
season. Pointed out that in addition to Norway, every country of
F.E. C. except the United States had agreed with the Australian
paper that Japanese whaling outside the North Pacific should be
prohibited and that the paper had been kept in the Committee level
at the request of the United States on the understanding that the
United States would probably agree to the prohibition of Japanese
whaling. Hilldring said that he fully admitted that record.

3. Hilldring gave assurances that no Japanese expedition would be
authorised before further consultations, but left the impression
that the United States was determined to go ahead.

4. The Ambassador is seeing Dean Acheson within the next few days
and intends
personally to raise this matter with him in the strongest possible
terms.