740.00119 PW/8–1445
The Australian Minister (Eggleston) to the Secretary of
State
Washington, 14 August,
1945.
Dear Mr. Secretary: Further to our
conversation yesterday during which I left with you a memorandum
setting out the views of the Australian Government on the
subject of the future treatment of Japan, I enclose herewith
certain specific comments, which I have just received from my
Government, on the terms of a communication from London to
Australia, setting out what is described as the “draft act of
surrender”. Presumably the “draft act of surrender” is identical
with the reply sent by President Truman on 11th August 1945 to
the Japanese surrender offer.91a
I have also been instructed by my Government to request that in
the event of an armistice being declared arrangements should be
made to synchronize the announcement in Australia and the
capitals of other countries concerned. I have been requested to
advise Australia urgently whether the United States Government
agrees to this proposal.
Yours sincerely,
[Enclosure]
The Australian Minister (Eggleston)
to the Secretary of
State
[Washington,]
14
August, 1945.
Comments of Australian Government on
Draft Act of Surrender Communicated to Australia from
London
Paragraph 3. The Australian Government feels that this
responsibility should be exacted under pain of punishment.
It is essential that specific provision should be made for
the medical care and feeding of prisoners and that first
priority in the use of enemy transport should be given to
the movement of prisoners. Full lists of all Allied
prisoners and civilians taken into custody since December
1941 should be required, and these lists should indicate the
place of their detention. All documents relating to the
treatment of prisoners or their decease should be
surrendered.
Paragraph 4. Having in mind points 1 and 2 of the Allied
reply to the Japanese note of 10th of August, the Australian
Government feels that the overriding authority of the Allied
Supreme Commander should be made explicit and that the
Emperor should be named along with the Government and
General Headquarters. Similarly with paragraph 5. It should
be made clear that subsequently there will be
[Page 662]
a more
comprehensive instrument implementing in detail the Allied
policy towards Japan, including the terms of the Potsdam
Declaration. The Australian Government would, therefore,
propose the addition to paragraph 5 of a sentence along the
following lines—“This act of military surrender is without
prejudice to and will be superseded by any subsequent
general instrument of surrender imposed by or on behalf of
the United Nations at war with Japan and applicable to the
Japanese Empire and armed forces as a whole.”
In addition, there should be a specific requirement for the
handing over of war criminals without dispute. Ships,
aircraft, industrial equipment, commodity stocks, etc.,
should be put specifically at the disposal of the Allied
Powers. The complete safety and well-being of prisoners of
war and internees in Japanese hands should be ensured. In
this connection it is also essential to make specific
provision for the full responsibility not only of the
Japanese Government and Imperial Headquarters but of
individual Japanese Commanders.
