SOVIET DEMANDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26542, 18 August 1947, Page 5

SOVIET DEMANDS

REJECTED BY AMERICA JAPANESE PEACE TREATY DISCUSSIONS WASHINGTON, Aug. 15. The United States, in a Note made public to-day, has rejected the Russian demand that preliminary discussions on the Japanese Peace Treaty be referred to the Council of Foreign Ministers, and also the Russian claims that the United States was acting unilaterally, or in contravention of the Potsdam Agreement, in proposing the 11-nation peace conference. At the same time, the United States expressed the hope that Russia would attend the conference. ■. , The Note said that as the United States Government had merely approached the other governments concerned to learn their views on a conference for a Japanese peace settlement, such opinion could not be interpreted as unilateral. Agreement by Other Nations Furthermore, the United States Government wished to point out that nine other governments represented on the Far Eastern Commission had replied indicating their agreement to the 11Power conference on the Japanese peace settlement. The conference would, of course, be free to decide its own procedure. The Note said that none of the agreements reached at Cairo, Yalta, or Potsdam contains provisions giving the Council of Foreign Ministers “any authority in connection with a Japanese peace settlement.” The Note said it. did not consider the Council of Foreign Ministers in the December, 1945, meeting at Moscow created the Far Eastern Commission “ to formulate policies, principles and standards in conformity with which the fulfilment by Japan of its obligations under surrender terms may be accomplished.” The Note added: “This action constituted recognition of the primary interests of these 11 Powers in post-sur-render policy matters for Japan, and hence in the peace settlement.” Voting Procedure In the voting at the conference it is known that the United States favours, the general two-thirds majority rule, while China suggested that each decision should be subject to a threequarters majority vote of the Big Four Powers, but it is now clear that the United States wishes the final decision on voting to be left to the conference itself. The Associated Press says the United States Government, in maintaining its definite position that the treaty should be drafted by the 11-nation conference, also made it plain that the United States will proceed with the conference even if Russia refuses to attend.