D.S.’s instructions to J.R. Jayewardene prior to San Francisco Peace Treaty Conference in 1951

D.S. Senanayake

By Senaka Weeraratna

Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake was invited to participate at the San Francisco Peace Treaty Conference in September 1951 after World War II to propose punitive provisions and the enforcement of arbitrary restrictions and embargoes for Japan. At the time D.S. was not in a position to attend that meeting and sent his nominee, J.R. Jayewardene. 

Prior to his departure, Jayewardene had a discussion with the Prime Minister who strongly advocated the idea of granting freedom to Japan. D.S. emphasised on requesting the world leaders that Japan be given a pardon. As Buddhists, everybody should be compassionate, kind and forgive this suffering nation, he added. The action he took to make this a reality has been documented by the first Executive President J.R. Jayewardene (D.S. Senanayake – The Reflection of Parakramabahu, 226pp).

Who should get the credit for the speech that moved the world?

The instructor (D.S. Senanayake – Prime Minister of Ceylon) or his nominee (J.R. Jayawardene – Finance Minister of Ceylon) or should both ‘DS’ and ‘JR’ share the credit for the greatest diplomatic achievement of Ceylon in contemporary history?

In this context it must be noted that India refused to take part in the San Francisco Peace Treaty Conference held in September 1951. Jawaharlal Nehru, then Prime Minister of India explained as follows: ‘What wrong has Japan done to India for us to take part in a Conference trying to impose punishment on Japan?’

To this day the older Japanese who still remember the Conference gratefully acknowledge the great service rendered by J.R. Jayewardene to Japan by his speech that day. Several other Asian countries had attended the Conference with big lists of demands for reparations from Japan.

But when they heard J.R. Jayewardene calling for compassion and Asian Buddhist solidarity towards Japan, they had quietly withdrawn their lists seeking compensation from Japan, and thereby saving Japan from paying a larger amount of money which Japan could ill-afford at the time. 

(http://dailynews.lk/2019/02/04/features/176453/statesman-who-stemmed-tide

https://www.sarasavi.lk/Book/D-S-Senanayake-The-Reflection-of-Parakrama-Bahu-9556719148

J.R. Jayewardene – The Speech that Moved the World)

Every now and then, a great speech changes perceptions forever. In 1951, a young J.R. Jayawardena is about to ascend the podium on a global stage. Find out what happens next.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= 9WtNaCNpWQ4&t=15s

See also: Speech of Senaka Weeraratna delivered at the Japanese Diet (Parliament building) on Nov. 14, 2018

URL: http://www.sdh-fact.com/essay-article/1275/

PDF: http://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/Senakas-Speech.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOH_Fa7SHYg