§ 14. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has now been made towards opening peace treaty talks with Japan.
§ Mr. BevinAs has frequently been stated, His Majesty's Government are anxious to see the conclusion of a final settlement in the Far East as soon as possible. But we are not prepared to accept the Soviet view that the drafting of the treaty should be confined to the Council of Foreign Ministers. We consider that all the countries which actually carried the burden of the combat against Japan should play a full part. This is a matter on which we have to move in step with the other Powers concerned and there are still a number of difficult obstacles to be overcome.