740.00119 Control (Japan)/10–245: Telegram
The Acting Political Adviser in Japan (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 8—11:42 a.m.]
13. We understand from a reliable diplomatic source that Japanese Foreign Office is endeavoring in its relations with neutral diplomats here to maintain that peace was negotiated and that Japanese Government still holds same position vis-à-vis neutral countries and their relations with Japan as it held before surrender. There is also some indication that members of Japanese Foreign Office are among the most reactionary and bureaucratic of Japanese officials now in office. According to some informed Japanese sources, Foreign Office is active in efforts to foster general belief that the war was “stopped,” thus hindering development of widespread understanding and realization that Japan was utterly defeated.
While certain functions and duties now performed by the Foreign Office may be desirable for the purposes of the occupation of Japan, we feel that serious consideration should be given by the American Government to the desirability of directing the Japanese Government to conduct its relations with neutral diplomatic missions only through Allied Military Headquarters. It is realized that this action might be questioned by neutral countries, but we believe it justified as contributing to the carrying out of the Potsdam Declaration and as an affirmative step forward in the accomplishment of various desirable objectives. Furthermore, while neutral governments might perceive [Page 734] objection to our requesting that they cease relations with Japanese diplomatic missions in their own capitals, there would not seem to be strong ground on which they could object to the suggested restriction on Japanese Foreign Office here as exigency of military occupation. Recall of Japanese diplomatic personnel abroad might constitute a further desirable step to be taken in near future.