1951 June: New Zealand's view

History of San Francisco Peace Treaty: Extra (2)

Commentary on Draft Treaty by the Department of State on June 1, 1951

To follow is about New Zealand's view from the "Foreign Relations with the United States" (1951, Vol.VI pp. 1060-1061)

New Zealand

"In view of the need to ensure that none of the islands near Japan is left in disputed
sovereignty, the New Zealand Government favours the precise delimitation by
latitude and longitude of the territory to be retained by Japan as suggested in Article 1 of the United Kingdom's draft. The adoption of this device could for example make it clear that the Habomai Islands and Shikotan at present under Russian occupation will remain with Japan."

(Comment-In the discussions at Washington the British agreed to drop
this proposal when the U.S. pointed to the psychological disadvantages of seeming to fence Japan in by a continuous line around Japan. The Japanese had objected
to the British proposal when it was discussed with them in Tokyo. U.S. willingness to
specify in the treaty that Korean territory included Quelpart, Port Hamilton and Dagelet also helped to persuade the British. As regards the Habomais and Shikotan, it has seemed more realistic, with the USSR in occupation of the islands, not specifically to stipulate their return to Japan.)

[Lots of thanks to opp]