Evening star., 1951-01-26
Long Overdue for Japan

Long Overdue for Japan
John Foster Dulles current mission to Tokyo
represents what General Macarthur has hailed
as determined and concrete" American effort
to speed up the negotiation of japanese peace
treaty. Moreover, in effect, the mission serves
notice on the men of the Kremlin that the United
States is not going to be deferred by their objec-
tions but will push ahead with the project with
or without Soviet participation
Certainly, as General Macarthur has said
such settlement is "long overdue" More than
five years have passed since VI day, and the
japanese have in the meantime Loyalty abided
by the surrender terms. Economically politically,
pSychologically and otherwise they need and
deserve treaty that will restore them to full
and equal membership in the family of free
nations-a restoration essential not only to them
selves but also to any effort to promote the long
range prosperity, stability and security of Asia
as a whole.
There is only one reason, of course why
technical state of war still exists between Japan
and At other countries. AS far back as July 1947
majority OF the eleven-nation Far Eastern
Commission proposed the drafting of peace
treaty that would be adopted on the basis of an
affirmative vote by two-thirds of the commits
sion'S members. But the Kremlin said no. It
insisted and still insists, that it should have the
power to veto any or all decisions arrived at by
the negotiators-a power with which it could
either paralyze the proceedings (as it has done
in Austria and Germany or impose conditions
calculated to help Moscow get special grip on
the Japanese.
In their recent comment on our tentative
American proposals for a treaty with Japan,
the Russians have not merely stuck to this
demand but have also indicated-along with Red
China-that they will regard as illegal" and
invalid" any settlement that the United States
and Ike-minded nations may work out without
the participation of the Soviet government and
the Mao regime at Peiping. In order words, there
must be no negotiation unless they take part
in it with the right to negate whatever decisions
are reached The State Department has given
the only possible answer to such a position
namely, that the Kremlin does not have "a
perpetual power to veto" the conclusion of
peace pact by other qualified countries ready
and willing to negotiate one, either separately
or acting together as group.
Accordingly-With the hope that it will have
the support of practically all the non-Soviet
powers still technically at war with Japan-the
United States is now moving ahead to arrange
for a settlement aimed at accomplishing these
two important objectives, among others: CD The
establishment of an American administered
United Nations trusteeshp for the Ryukyu and
6onn ISlandS, ana W lOng-term security
agreement under which the Japanese will join us
in cooperative defensive MISUNDERSTANDING
some rearmament for them-to guarantee their
own safety and promote the general stability of
Asia by creating a sounder balance of power
there.
To that end, during his present mission, Mr.
Dulles working closely with General Macarthur,
will hold detailed discussions with Japans top
leaders, who are unanimous in wanting treaty
but whose views differ as to the extent and nature
OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS defensive cooperation
after the treaty goes into effect-co-operation
that will be absolutely essential as long as the
Moscow -Peiping policy of aggression threatens
that part of the world. The discussions, of
course, will not lead directly or Immediately to
peace settlement, but they may make one pos
sible before the year ends.
In any event, in Mr. Dulles words, the
japanese are entitled now to peace under
which, as masters of their own destiny, they will
become worthy members of the free world,
sharing honorably its opportunities, it's RESPONSE
bilities and the common purpose to surmount
the dangers that characterize these explosive
times Certainly, regardless of threatful Soviet
opposition, the United States should spare no
effort to give them that kind of peace.