Proposed Changes to the Working Conditions of the Far East Consultative Commission

SECRET

US Ambassador Mr. Harriman

presented [this] to V. M. Molotov   

on 30 October 1945

Translation from English

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE FAR EAST CONSULTATIVE COMMISSION

I. Institution

The governments……….hereby institute the Far East Commission, consisting of the representatives of the participating powers.

II. Functions

A. The functions of the Far East Commission are:

1) the formulation of the policy, principles, and norms required for the full implementation of the surrender document, both on the part of Japan as well as between the participating governments.

2) the consideration of any other questions which might be sent to it by agreement  between the participating governments.

B. The Commission will not give recommendations either with respect to the conduct of military operations or with respect to territorial settlements.

C. The Commission will take into account the existing control mechanism in Japan, including the power structure from the Government of the United States to the Supreme Commander, and also the exercise of command of the occupation armed forces by the Supreme Commander; the Commission will also take as obligatory policy already presented by the Government of the United States if and until it is changed by the Commission, and will also consider obligatory the directives which the United States has already sent to the Supreme Commander if and until the authorities which gave the instructions change such directives in accordance with the Commission’s recommendations.

III. The Functions of the Government of the United States

1. The Government of the United States will prepare directives based on the political decisions of the Commission and send them to the Supreme Commandeer through the appropriate bodies of the Government of the United States. The Supreme Commander will bear responsibility for implementing the directives expressing the political decisions of the Commission.

2. The Government of the United States can give temporary directives to the Supreme Commander before the adoption of a decision of the Commission in those cases when urgent questions arise going beyond the bounds of a policy already formulated by the Commission.

3. All directives issued will be submitted to the Commission.

IV. Other methods of consultation

The institution of the Commission does not exclude the use of other methods of consultation by the participating governments on contentious Far Eastern questions.

V. Composition

1. The Far East Commission will consist of one representative from each of the countries participating in this agreement. The membership in the Commission can be increased by agreement between the participating powers as conditions require by adding the representatives of other United Nations of the Far East or nations having territory there. The Commission will provide exhaustive and appropriate consultation, as circumstances might require, with representatives of the United Nations which are not members of the Commission with respect to questions posed to the Commission and of interest to such nations.

2. The Commission can adopt decisions about actions without unanimity, with a minimum number of votes on condition that a majority of all the representatives, including the representatives of the following three powers – the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China – agree with these actions.

VI. The Location of the Organization.

The Far East Commission will have its headquarters in Washington. Its conferences can occur where circumstances require them, in other places, including Tokyo, if and when it is considered advisable to proceed in such a way.

It can agree about such measures through the Chairman with the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers when this can be accomplished.

Each representative of the Commission can be accompanied by a corresponding staff consisting of both a civilian as well as military representation.

The Commission will create its own Secretariat, appoint such committee as might be necessary, and will also improve its organization and work by some other way.

VII. The End of Functioning

The Far East Commission will cease its work when a decision about its work is adopted by agreement of at least a majority of all representatives, including the representatives of three of the following powers:  the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China. Before the end of its functions the Commission will hand over those functions which can be appropriately handed over to any intermediary or permanent Security Organization whose members are member governments.

Moscow, 30 October 1945

Translated by Potrubach

Distributed to:

Cdes. Stalin,

Molotov,

Beria,

Malenkov,

Mikoyan,

Vyshinsky,

Dekanozov,

Lozovsky, and

the USA Department

1325-M