Treaty of San Francisco Worksheets
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Table of Contents
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Summary
- Background and Main Outcomes of the Treaty
- San Francisco Peace Conference
- Territorial and Political Consequences
- Compensation and Unresolved Issues from the San Francisco Treaty
Key Facts And Information
Let’s find out more about the Treaty of San Francisco!
The Treaty of San Francisco, also known as the Treaty of Peace with Japan, was an important agreement that officially ended the state of war between Japan and many of the countries that had fought against it during the Second World War. It was signed on 8 September 1951 in San Francisco, US, by 49 countries.
The treaty came into effect on 28 April 1952. It brought an end to the Allied occupation of Japan, returned complete independence to the country, and confirmed Japan’s acceptance of responsibility for its role in the war. The treaty also offered compensation to the countries and individuals who had suffered under Japanese military actions, including prisoners of war.
Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida signs the Treaty of San Francisco, marking Japan's return to the global stage after World War II.
Background and Main Outcomes of the Treaty
- Japan surrendered its empire and promised not to use force to resolve international conflicts. The Treaty of San Francisco confirmed the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as guiding principles for peacekeeping. Japan also accepted the verdicts of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, which found Japanese commanders guilty of war crimes. Finally, the treaty permitted Japan to rejoin the international community. It signalled the start of a close partnership with the US.
- Countries that took part in the peace conference included: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Chile, Colombia, Egypt, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the Soviet Union, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and many others.
- Some countries were not invited or chose not to attend the conference:
- China was not invited because of disagreements between the United States and the United Kingdom about which Chinese government represented the people – the Republic of China (Taiwan) or the People’s Republic of China (mainland China).
- Korea was also excluded due to similar uncertainty over whether North Korea or South Korea should represent the country.
- India was invited but did not attend. It is believed that the treaty limited Japan’s independence and was signed as a separate peace treaty with Japan in 1952.
- Italy was not invited, even though it had declared war on Japan just before the end of World War II.
- Portugal was also excluded, despite its colony, East Timor, having been invaded by Japan during the war.
- Burma (now Myanmar) and Yugoslavia were invited but chose not to attend.
- Pakistan, which became independent in 1947, was invited because it had once been part of British India, a major participant in the war against Japan.
San Francisco Peace Conference
- The Soviet Union attended the San Francisco Conference and was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko. From the beginning, the Soviet Union strongly disagreed with the treaty drafted by the United States and the United Kingdom. Soviet delegates tried several times to delay or disrupt the discussions, though these efforts failed.
- In a lengthy speech on 8 September 1951, Gromyko explained why the Soviet Union opposed the treaty. He argued that:
- The treaty did not prevent the return of Japanese militarism.
- China, one of the primary victims of Japan’s wartime aggression, was not included in the talks.
- The Soviet Union had not been adequately consulted during the treaty’s drafting.
- The treaty would allow the United States to use Japan as a military base, possibly against the Soviet Union.
- It did not confirm Soviet claims to South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, as agreed at Yalta.
- It ignored China’s rights to Taiwan and other territories.
- Because of these concerns, the Soviet Union refused to sign the treaty. It was not until 19 October 1956 that the Soviet Union and Japan formally ended the war between them by signing a Joint Declaration.
- During this period, China was in the middle of a civil war, with two rival governments: the Republic of China (ROC), based in Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), based in mainland China. The United States supported the ROC, while the United Kingdom recognised the PRC. Since the two sides could not agree on which government should attend, neither was invited to the conference.
- One of the most powerful speeches at the conference came from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), delivered by Finance Minister J. R. Jayewardene. While some countries wanted strict punishment for Japan, Jayewardene spoke in favour of forgiveness and reconciliation. He said that although Ceylon had suffered from the war, it would not demand reparations from Japan. Quoting the Buddha, he said, ‘Hatred does not end by hatred, but only by love.’ He concluded with a message of peace and friendship, hoping Japan and other nations could move forward together. His words received loud applause, and The New York Times later described him as ‘the voice of free Asia’ at the conference.
Territorial and Political Consequences
- Out of the 51 countries that took part, 48 signed the treaty. The countries that refused were the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Some countries, like the Philippines and Indonesia, signed separate peace agreements with Japan later on.
- The Philippines signed the San Francisco Treaty in 1951 but ratified it only in 1956, after agreeing on reparations with Japan.
- Indonesia signed a separate treaty in 1958.
- The Treaty of Taipei, signed between Japan and the Republic of China, also took effect on 28 April 1952, the same day as the San Francisco Treaty.
- The treaty stated that Japan gave up all rights to several former colonies and overseas territories. These included:
- Korea
- Taiwan (Formosa) and the Pescadores
- The Kuril Islands
- Parts of Antarctica
- Islands in the South China Sea, including the Spratly and Paracel Islands
- However, the treaty did not say clearly who these territories now belonged to. For example, while Japan gave up its claim to Taiwan, the treaty did not say whether China (and which Chinese government) now owned it. This has led to ongoing disputes about Taiwan’s sovereignty and whether it is part of China or should be independent.
- Some Japanese islands were left under temporary foreign control:
- The Amami Islands were returned to Japan in 1953.
- The Bonin and Volcano Islands (including Iwo Jima) were returned in 1968.
- The Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa, were handed back in 1972 after a deal between the US and Japan.
- However, disputes remain today, especially over:
- The Kuril Islands (between Japan and Russia)
- The Senkaku Islands (between Japan, China and Taiwan)
Political map of the Asia-Pacific region in 1939, showing territorial boundaries before World War II.
- In Article 11, Japan agreed to accept the judgements made by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and other war crimes courts. The treaty also included terms for the return of prisoners of war and confirmed that Japan would no longer be allowed to start wars under the rules of the United Nations Charter.
Compensation and Unresolved Issues from the San Francisco Treaty
- After the Second World War, Japan was required to provide compensation for the damage it caused during the conflict.
- This was stated in Article 14 of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. However, the treaty also acknowledged that Japan’s economy was too weak at the time to pay full reparations to all countries affected. Instead, the treaty encouraged Japan to make agreements with individual countries. In many cases, Japan provided help by offering financial payments or by sending workers and materials to help with post-war rebuilding.
- Some of the countries that received compensation include:
- Burma (now Myanmar) $200 million 1955
- Philippines $550 million 1956
- Indonesia $223 million 1958
- South Vietnam $38 million 1959
- The last payment was made to the Philippines in 1976.
- Many Allied soldiers were captured and treated harshly by Japanese forces during the war. Article 16 of the treaty stated that Japan would provide compensation to these former prisoners of war (POWs) and their families. To do this, Japan gave money (around £4.5 million) to the International Red Cross, which then distributed the funds. Later, some former POWs tried to take legal action to get more compensation, but the Tokyo courts rejected these cases, saying that the treaty had already settled the matter.
- Before and during the war, Japan had built up many businesses, factories and railways in the countries it occupied, especially in China, Korea and Taiwan. After the war, these were taken over by the local authorities, and Japan lost ownership of them. According to Article 4, any claims by Japan or Japanese citizens over these properties had to be settled through special agreements between Japan and the local governments. Even though Korea did not sign the treaty, it was still allowed to benefit from this rule because of Article 21.
- By 1945, the total value of Japanese-owned assets overseas was over $25 billion (in 1945 US dollars), with large amounts based in China and Korea. When China and Japan restored diplomatic relations in 1972, the Chinese government chose not to demand reparations, saying that doing so would help promote peace and friendship between the two nations. This was written in their Joint Communiqué.
- Since South Korea was not invited to the peace conference and did not sign the treaty, it was not automatically included in the compensation arrangements. In 1965, Japan and South Korea signed a separate agreement. Japan paid compensation directly to the South Korean government, which promised to handle payments to individual victims.
- However, many victims never received any money, as the South Korean government used much of the funds for economic development instead. Some South Koreans still demand direct compensation from Japan, especially those affected by forced labour and military sexual slavery during the war.
- Today, Japan claims that the 1965 treaty settled all claims, while South Korea argues that it did not cover individual cases of war crimes or crimes against humanity.
- The treaty said that Japan gave up all rights to Taiwan, the Pescadores, the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands. However, the treaty did not say to whom Taiwan now belonged. This has led to continuing debate over Taiwan’s legal status. One theory, called the ‘Undetermined Status of Taiwan’, argues that because the treaty did not transfer Taiwan to any country, its future should be decided by the principle of self-determination – the idea that the people of Taiwan should decide for themselves.
- Supporters of Taiwanese independence often refer to this theory to argue that Taiwan is not officially part of China, whether the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or the Republic of China (ROC). Because the treaty did not clearly state who controlled certain islands, some territorial disputes remain today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Malcolm III of Scotland
- What was the Treaty of San Francisco?
It was a peace treaty between Japan and 48 Allied nations that officially ended the state of war and re-established Japan as a sovereign nation after World War II.
- Who signed the treaty?
Japan and 48 Allied countries signed the treaty. The Soviet Union, Poland, and Czechoslovakia refused to sign, and India and China were not involved in the signing.
- Why was the treaty important?
It marked Japan’s return to the international community, laid the foundation for its postwar economic rise, and aligned Japan closely with the United States during the Cold War.