Cablegram 152 CANBERRA, 22 April 1948
SECRET
Your Dept. 204 and 205 [1] and memorandum 196. [2]
We are instructing our FEC representative to make firm protest at next meeting of FEC on 22nd April along the following lines:-
(a) Bill, which appears to conflict with FEC basic policy and disarmament policy, has been presented to Japanese Diet with cognizance of SCAR (b) We consider this a matter of substance which should have been referred to the Allied Council for Japan under paragraph 5 of its terms [of] reference.
(c) Articles 4, 19, 20 and 35 of the Bill appear to require revision in order to bring them in line with FEC policies.
Although SCAP has authority under paragraph 8 of FEC 017/20 to use former disarmed Japanese naval craft we consider that this is a question on which he could well have consulted the Allied Council for Japan as it is direct implementation of an FEC policy decision. [3]
2. Please raise this formally with the Chairman of the Allied Council and endeavour:-
(a) to delay publication of ordinance (Article 34) pending discussion in FEC, and (b) to have matter discussed at next meeting of Allied Council.
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1 Dispatched 9 and in April 1948 respectively, they supplied information requested by the Department about a Bill, recently introduced into Japanese Diet, to create a Marine Peace Preservation Board, purpose of which was to operate coastguard vessels.
2 Dated 14 April 1948 it conveyed a copy of the draft Marine Peace Preservation Board Law.
3 Maki. made a statement at FEC meeting on 22 April 1948.
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[AA:A1838/278, 481/9]