Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East, Volume VIII

740.00116 PW/1–2646: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan)

secret
us urgent

Washington, January 30, 1946—8 p.m.

174. Urtel 257, Jan. 26. Charter of Far Eastern International Military Tribunal issued by Supreme Commander Jan. 19. Text will be forwarded to Moscow as soon as authentic copy received Washington. Unofficial text received Washington indicates charter very closely follows Nuremberg provisions. British prosecuting staff, which left Washington for Tokyo Jan. 26, were advised that it was not intended to preclude further consideration of charter provisions upon their arrival in Tokyo. Similar assurances should be given Soviet representatives. It is requested you urge FonOff to arrange departure of Soviet representatives immediately in order that they might join discussions now proceeding and shortly to be internationalized in Tokyo.

Byrnes