Treasury Chambers
Great George Street
SW1

19th September, 1955

OF 63/208/010

Dear Allen,

You wrote to me on 1st June to let me know the considered view of the Foreign Office that HMG should not invoke Article 26 of the Peace Treaty with Japan in order to claim increased reparations and war compensation benefits equivalent to those provided in Treaties subsequently entered into by Japan with Burma and Switzerland.

We have considered this question and the Foreign Secretary has accepted the conclusion you had reached on general grounds of foreign relations, despite the possibility of domestic political embarrassment in connection with Allied prisoners of war.

We also agree that we should maintain the same attitude in regard to any agreements which Japan may make with other countries, unless there is a material difference in the circumstances.

Finally, as you say, no publicity should be given to the decision, nor should anything be said to the Japanese, since we retain our freedom to use this legal entitlement to claim on Japan, though we are not asserting it, as a bargaining counter in negotiation or other claims against Japan.

I am sending copies of this letter to Levine, Anderson and Kennedy, and to Ludgate of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance who is concerned with the prisoners of war aspect.

Yours sincerely

ER Coplestone

W.D Allen Esq.
Foreign Office