PEACE TREATY FOR JAPAN; LIKELY FORM DISCLOSED

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1949, Page 5

PEACE TREATY FOR JAPAN; LIKELY FORM DISCLOSED

LONDON, Nov 8 (Recd. 6pm).— British and American plans for a peace treaty with Japan, as disclosed by high officials, indicate that Russia and Communist China are unlikely to be present at the peace conference, says “The Times” Tokio correspondent.

The terms of the treaty are stated to concern reparations claims for war damages, and relations with foreign Powers. Provisions are also to be inserted for the maintenance of the democratic reforms instituted by General MacArthur, but little mention is made of an international supervisory body which it was long ago understood was to watch Japanese actions after the peace treaty, and to ensure the observance of the treaty terms.

The correspondent continues: Once the treaty has been signed Japan would enter into a compact with the United States whereby the United States would be given air. naval and military bases in Japan on long lease. The United States, for its part, would undertake to defend Japan against any aggressor.

it is expected that the present strength of the American occupation forces in this theatre would, under such agreement, remain virtually unchanged. Some sources suggest (although this appears unlikely) that the British Commonwealth might also join the United States in guaranteeing the defence of Japan; no views, however, are available on the extent to which the Commonwealth might be committed under such an arrangement. On the conclusion of the treaty Russian and Chinese representatives, if they still represented belligerent nations, would, it is stated, be asked to leave the country.

American troops in Japan would be stationed in isolated districts ‘in order not to hurt Japanese susceptibilities.” General MacArthur is in favour of an early peace treaty, but it is not known exactly what terms he has in mind. He desires that a peace conference should be held in Tokio, that he himself would preside, but without power to vote. Some Americans are concerned about the strength of the Commonwealth, which would be five times that of the United States. A previous understanding on that point would, they say, be necessary before a conference could begin. The initiative for reopening negotiations on the Japanese peace treaty came this time from the United Kingdom, continues the correspondent. The British Government is said to have been persuaded fully that it is in the British interest to have the American controls over Japan removed with the least delay. The Japanese people,, while naturally desiring conditions or peace, are lukewarm about a treaty in which their two most powerful neighbours—Communist China and the Soviet Union —would not be represented. They dread war, and can see little advantage in a state of affairs in which China and Russia would remain belligerents opposing Japan. The Japanese Government, on the other hand, is overjoyed at the thought of such a treaty. It firmly believes it could not recover its former empire unless the Western Allies were involved in a conflict with Russia. The Japanese people would seem to prefer a continuation of the present Allied occupation with the benefits it gives them rather than a partial peace treaty, at which ® UC *J of Asia looked askance, and which cut them off from China.—Special N.Z.P.A. Correspondent.