Evening star., 1945-11-23

can naval forces now In Pacific
waters, without of course limiting In
any way the freedom of action and
of decision of the Government o1
the United States with regard to
the disposition of naval forces >"
Hong Kong Release Suggested.
This Government also would have
agreed to suggest that the British
cede Hong Kong to China.
In connection with the 20-year
financial credit, there were two no.
tations in parentheses, one stating
that the United States should be
prepared to extend similar credit to
China, and the other pointing out
that this approach would require
congressional approval.
Japan would have agreed to sell
the United States some of its out
put of commercial and naval ships
Stark Takes Exception.
Under date of November 81, Ad-
miral Stark took exception to
some features of this plan. He de-
scribed as unacceptable" the pro-
posal to reduce American naval
forces in the Pacific, contending that
"our naval forces in the Pacific are
inadequate and should not have to
undergo additional loss of strength -
Another comment in the Stark
memorandum reads:
LAS 1 mentioned this morning,
just don't like the idea of our buy
ing Hong Kong from the British anc
giving it to China. If this is to be
done I think the British at least
ought to make this contribution. tc
a cause more important for the
British Commonwealth than for the
United States. Portugal should like
wise give up Macao"
Admiral Stark also described as
unacceptable" the plan to purchase
Japanese shipping. He wrote that
he did not believe the japanese
could accept it, certainly not with
regard to their naval vessels; il
would be a humiliating procedure
IL Oiil CllCll SIdllQpOlIlI.
GerOw Offered no Objection.
The War Department, through
Brig. Gen. L. T. Gerow. acting as
sistant chief of staff, while not ex-
pressing strict adherence to all the
conditions outlined" interposed mo
objection to its use as a basis for
discussion"
The adoption of its provisions
would attain one of our present
major objectives-the avoidance of
war with Japan wrote Gen. Gerow.
Even a temporary peace in the
Pacific would permit us to complete
defensive preparations in the Philip
pines and at the same time insure
continuance of material assistance
to the BritiSh-both of which are
highly important"
Gen. GeroW added, War plans
division wishes to emphasize it is
of grave importance to the sue
cess of our war effort in Europe
that we reach a modus vivendi with
Japan"
Trade Concessions Urged.
This had reference to the fact
that the japanese, about this time,
had suggested the two governments
enter into temporary moduS
vlvendi, consisting chiefly of trade
concessions. The japanese sug-
gested this would give them an op-
portunity to further develop public
sentiment in Japan in support of a
comprehensive program of peace
throughout the Pacific.
The stack of documents show that
the State Department drew up an
outline of proposed temporary
modus vivendi, allowing certain ex-
ports from the United States to
Japan, including oil for civilian
needs only, and the resumption of
imports from Japan. There was
prepared at the same time a more
general declaration of a proposed
basis of agreement between the two
countries.
The documents disclose that
Cnlang ht.l-Shek sent a telegram
to Washington on November 25 ex-
pressing fear that if the United
States relaxed the economic block
ade and freezing of japanese assets,
or even if reports of such an agree
ment should gain currency, the mo-
rale of the Chinese Army might COL
lapse. Chang went on:
During the past two months the
Japanese propagandists have spread
the belief that in November an
agreement will be successfully
reached with the United States.
They have even come to a silent
but none the less definite under
standing with the doubtful elements
in O,lr country IF therefore there