Evening star., 1947-07-17
U. 5. Ready TO Change
Jap Peace Talk Date
On British Request
By Gornett D. Horner

VII
By Gornett D. Horner
The United States was ready
today to compromise on the Au-
gust 19 date it proposed for a
preliminary 11-nation confer
ence on a Japanese peace treaty,
but not on the principle that the
talks should be free of any big
power veto.
Despite the widening split between
Russia and the Western Allies in
Europe, American officials hoped
that the Soviet would agree to the
suggested procedure which marks a
wide departure from big power die
tation of European peace making.
Russian refusal to 60 along with
the proposal to give small nations
voice in framing Of the japanese
treaty from the start, under two
thirds voting rule, would confront
this Government with decision as
to whether to permit indefinite delay
or proceed without the Soviet.
No Objection Raised.
Secretary of State Marshall told
reporters at news conference
yesterday he would have to wait
until such a situation arose before
he discussed 1T.
None of the 10 countries to which
this Government submitted its pro-
posals last Friday has yet raised
any official objection to the basic
procedure suggested.
Great Britain has made clear,
however, that she will ask the con-
ference be deferred until after Brit
ish Commonwealth talks scheduled
to begin in Australia August 26.
The United States suggested August
10 originally as only a tentative"
date for the 11-nation meeting.
Authoritative sources in London
also said today, the Associated
Press reported, that Britain might
suggest that IA instead of II ma
tions participate in the treaty talks.
The three. additional ones would be
South Africa, Burma and the en-
bryo Moslem state of Pakistan, in
India.
Other Nations Would Be Heard.
The United States advocated that
the preliminary talks include the
II nations represented on the Far
Eastern Commission. Announce
ment of the proposal yesterday said
this would provide a, broad repre-
sentative basis of participation to
include all of those nations with
a primary interest in Japan"
American views, the announce
ment added, are that additional ma
tions at war with Japan should be
given opportunity to present their
views while the treaty is being
drafted for final consideration by
a general conference of all the states
which declared war against Japan.
The countries which the United
States proposed to take part in the
preliminary talks are the Big Four
of the Far East-America, Britain,
China and Russia-plus the Phil
ippines, India, Australia, New Zea-
land, France, the Netherlands and
Canada.
Under the proposal, the confer
ence would be held somewhere in
this country-presumably in Wash
ington, although San Francisco was
not ruled out as possible site.
Australians Hope For Delay.
. Australian government officials,
planning to go ahead with the
scheduled Empire Conference at
Canberra August 26 for an exchange
of views among Britain, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand and South
Africa Aen THE japanese treaty,
Joined London in expressing hope
the United States would agree to
change of date in the conference
here.
While there was no official an
nouncement concerning a British
proposal to add three countries to
the list to be invited here, authori-
.tative sources told the Associated
Press that both South Africa and
Burma had expressed their desires
to take part. Burma, actively af-
fected by Japanese aggression dur
ing the war, since has received con-
stitutional independence as a Brit
ish dominion.
In Toxic, Gen. Macarthur, who
has urged that preliminaries for a
Japanese peace treaty be started
this fall, was described as highly
pleased at the State Department
announcement yesterday.
japanese Are Pleased.
Japanese generally were jubilant.
Premier TetSu Katayama hailed the
announcement as "a good thing"
He approved the plan for II nations
to take part in the talks, saying
he wanted ito have greater num-
ber of nations understand Japan"
But he sidestepped as "a delicate
question" comment on the position
Of the Big Four.
The American proposal departs
radically from procedures favored
by Russia in Europe and in provid-
ing II nations, rather than merely
the big powers, should take part
under rule that decision be made
by a two-thirds vote with no big
power having a veto.
In Europe, Russia fatty opposed
any such wide participation and in
sisted on veto powers.
l. Unlike her position in most OF