GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS

25 October 1945

(SCAPIN-189)

MEMORANDUM TO	The Imperial Japanese Government.
THROUGH	Central Liaison Office, Tokyo.
SUBJECT	Transfer of Custody of Diplomatic and Consular Property and Archives.

1 By direction of the Allied Powers, the following instructions are given the Imperial Japanese Government for prompt compliance:
A. In countries where Sweden or Switzerland are acting as protecting powers over Japanese interests, with the exception of those countries enumerated in sub-paragraph B below, the protecting power concerned will be instructed by the Japanese Government to turn over intact and without delay to representatives of the four Allied Powers who have been instructed to receive them, physical custody of all Japanese diplomatic and consular property and archives in the country concerned. The protecting power, however, should continue to exercise routine functions of protection of Japanese nationals.
B. In the United Kingdom, the Union Soviet Socialist Republics, China, the United States, the British Commonwealths, France and the Netherlands, including colonies and dependencies thereof, the protecting power concerned will be instructed by the Japanese Government to turn over intact and without delay to the government of the country in which they are located, physical custody of all Japanese diplomatic and consular property and archives in the country concerned.
C. In all neutral countries, the Japanese Government will instruct the Japanese mission in such country to turn over intact and without delay physical custody of all Japanese diplomatic and consular property and archives to representatives of the four Allied Powers who have been designated to receive them. Routine functions of protection of Japanese nationals in such neutral countries may be turned over to Sweden or Switzerland since these powers are acting as protecting powers for Japanese interests elsewhere.
D. The Japanese Government will immediately recall Japanese diplomatic and consular representatives in neutral countries and will cease further relations with foreign governments except as stated in sub-paragraphs A and C above, or in accordance with such procedures as are hereafter established.
2. Copies of all instructions issued to the protecting powers or to Japanese diplomatic representatives or consular officials in the several countries concerned in compliance with this directive, and a prompt report of action taken by the recipient of such instructions will be furnished at the earliest practicable date.

FOR THE SUPREME COMMANDER:

H.W.ALLEN,
Colonel, A.G.D.,
Acting Adjutant General.