From the Diary of V.M. Molotov, Reception of the Chinese Ambassador to France, Jing Tai, on 6 May 1946 at 3:00 p.m. in the Soviet Embassy in Paris

SECRET

From the diary of

V.M. MOLOTOV

RECEPTION OF THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE, JING TAI

On 6 May 1946 at 3:00 p.m. in the USSR Embassy in Paris

MOLOTOV asks if Jing Tai has been long in Paris.

JING TAI answers that he has been in Paris since the liberation, at the same time as Bogomolov.

MOLOTOV says that Bogomolov was a bit late in his arrival to Paris.

JING TAI says that he was also late, as he waited nearly a month for an airplane from the allies, and only in October 1944 could he get to Paris, and Paris was liberated in August.

MOLOTOV says that he read the memorandum which Jing Tai presented on the German question.

JING TAI says that the Chinese government suggests that the German problem can be discussed in the Soviet of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The Chinese government is very interested in the discussion of the German problem, all the more so as the conditions prevailing in Germany might be applied in regard to Japan.  Therefore the Chinese government would like to be present at discussions of the German problem.

MOLOTOV asks whether or not we have presented this question before the USA, English, and French ministries of foreign affairs, and whether or not their opinions on this matter are known.

JING TAI says that the Americans and French agree.  Regarding England, they have informed us that in principle they agree with this request, but they must still look it over.  Jing Tai says that the Chinese government would like to know the opinion of the Soviet government on this.

MOLOTOV says that they still have not decided whether or not to discuss the German problem.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs still cannot discuss matters relating to the preparation of peace treaties discussed in the decisions at the Moscow Conference.  In these decisions it was declared that the Soviet of Ministers of foreign affairs should engage in the preparation of peace treaties with Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Finland.

JING TAI says that the German question, probably, will be discussed after all these other questions.

MOLOTOV agrees with this, but says that still the question of whether or not the matter will be discussed and in what form these discussions will take place has still not been decided.  The English until this time have been against the discussion of this matter.

JING TAI says that the Chinese government would be grateful to the Soviet government if it supported its request about the presence of China at the Soviet of Ministers of foreign affairs, if the German question is discussed there.

MOLOTOV says that, in his opinion, all the ministries of foreign affairs with great interest will take up the request of the Chinese government.

MOLOTOV inquires about affairs in China and about the situation in Japan.  Molotov says that probably soon will begin the process [of judgment] against Japanese military criminals.  Molotov asks if Jing Tai knows anything or not about this, or if he, located in Paris, is far removed from this question.

JING TAI answers that in Japan after the elections it was very difficult to find a premier-minister for the new government.  Regarding the trial against the Japanese military criminals, it has begun.  The Japanese lawyers have placed the competency of the tribunal in doubt, declaring that they cannot agree with a situation in which the victors judge the conquered.  They demand a neutral court.  The court, however, went ahead past these claims.

MOLOTOV says that, of course, to the extent that he knows, the accused presents a statement to the accuser, but the process has still not begun.

JING TAI says that the proclamation of the accused is right now being considered by the accuser, but the accuser has still not answered to the court.  A curious event took place in the process:  Okinava struck a blow against Todzio for setting off the 1931 incident in Manchuria.  After this they further became angry at each other.

MOLOTOV says to let the Japanese military criminals fight against each other.  We’re not going to worry about this.  

JING TAI says that when Japan endures defeat, such scenes often take place.  The thing is that various military cliques exist in Japan and each of them believe that responsibility for the defeat lies with a different military group.

MOLOTOV asks about the situation in Indo-China.

JING TAI answers that China concluded a treaty with France and promised to remove its troops from Indo-China.  In connection with transportation difficulties Chinese troops still remain in Indo-China.  France in March of this year concluded a treaty with Vietnam as a free state.  Now they are discussing the details of the treaty and several additions.

A.E. Bogomolov was present during the discussion.

Recorded by V. Erofeev.

Circulated to comrades:

Stalin

Beria

Mikoian

Malenkov

Zhdanov

Vyshinskii

Dekanozov

Gusev (London)

Petrov (Chongqing)

Novikov

1^st Far Eastern department