Lot 54 D 423
Mr. John Foster Dulles, the Consultant to the Secretary, to the Supreme Commander for Allied Powers (MacArthur)
confidential
My Dear General MacArthur, I write this note at home, Sunday, with Janet1 as my typist. Bill Sebald leaves tonight and will carry my salutations, plus the latest in news and documents. Developments are not all good. The U.K. attitude is worrying, particularly in relation to Australia, where the forthcoming general elections will make the Japanese Treaty a central issue. The U.K. Labor Government no doubt wants the rather anti-American Labor Government of Australia to come back to power, and will not want treaty or security arrangements to proceed favorably during the election period.
Allison flies to London tonight—to brief our Embassy—not negotiate. He returns Wednesday.
There are occasional signs of relapse in the Pentagon.
However, I am resolved to carry through, and am working with determination and without let-up. There is good will from the President, Acheson, Marshall, the Congressional Committees and the press and public generally.
The United States and Japan are the only significant sources of power in the Pacific, we actual, they potential. If we can work in accord, the lesser Pacific powers will get security and will sooner or later, formally or informally, endorse that accord. If the United States and Japan fall apart, the situation in the West Pacific is grave for a long time. There is, in this matter, the opportunity to serve well our own nation—and others. Your own position is central, dominating and indispensable. For that I am grateful.
With best wishes to you and your wife, in which Janet joins,
Faithfully yours,
- Mrs. John Foster Dulles.↩