Tokyo Post Files: 320.1 Peace Treaty
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Third Secretary of the Mission in Japan (Finn)
Subject: Treaty Provisions Regarding Shipping
| Participants: | Minister John M. Allison |
| Mr. Shoichi Amari, Director of Ship Bureau, Ministry of Transport | |
| Mr. Kivoshi Fujino, Chief of Shipbuilding Section, Ship Bureau, Ministry of Transport | |
| Mr. Yoshimitsu Ando, Chief of General Affairs Section, Political Bureau, Foreign Office | |
| Mr. Richard B. Finn |
1. Mr. Allison described Article 12 of the draft treaty, particularly 12 (d), after the Japanese officials indicated they had only brief familiarity with the article and were not clear as to the problem involved. Mr. Allison stated that the United States policy was to seek equality for shipping and to exempt shipping from restrictions imposed by other countries desiring to protect their external financial position or balance of payments, and he stated that the United Kingdom felt that Article 12 (d) would put them in a worse position than before the war since they had previously received unconditional national treatment in respect to shipping and by this provision would receive only conditional national treatment. The UK had suggested a separate article regarding shipping by which they would receive unconditional national treatment; the US did not think this desirable [Page 1166] in a multilateral treaty and felt that such a problem might better be handled in a bilateral treaty between Japan and the UK. Exemption of shipping from those conditions of Article 12 (d) relating to external financial position and balance of payments would make it easier to gain approval of the treaty in the US and the UK. Mr. Dulles had felt that the opinion of Japanese experts would be useful in this regard.
2. Mr. Ando stated that the Japanese were not prepared to give an opinion on this matter at the present time. Mr. Allison emphasized that the contemplated amendment of Article 12 (d) would mean merely that the Allied Powers would not be in a worse position after the war than before and also that any obligations imposed on Japan would be subject to reciprocal treatment. He added that such an amendment would have the result of facilitating UK approval of the treaty and also of virtually eliminating the possibility that there would be any limitations in the treaty on Japan’s shipbuilding in the post-treaty period.
3. Mr. Ando asked about coastal shipping and was shown the draft shipping article suggested by the UK. (See mistel 2242, June 26, 1951).1 Mr. Ando stated his feeling that amendment of Article 12 (d) would be preferable to insertion of a new article along the line of the article suggested by the UK.
4. It was agreed that the Japanese would consider the matter and forward an opinion as soon as possible.2
- See footnote 3, p. 1150.↩
- In telegram 2272, from Tokyo, June 29, marked “For Dulles from Allison,” the latter reported in part: “As result mtg this morning with Jap shipping and treaty experts, Iguchi told me Jap Govt wld have no objection excluding shipping matters from purview of 12(d) on understanding this in fact merely restored prewar situation. This will be confirmed in writing tomorrow.” (694.001/6–2951)↩