Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI

694.001/4–1950

Draft¹ of Security Agreement by the Special Assistant to the Secretary (Howard)

top secret

[Washington,] April 19, 1950.

Agreement on Security With Respect to Japan

article 1

The Parties agree to respect the territorial integrity, political independence and security of one another and, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any international disputes between them by peaceful means and refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.

article 2

The Parties other than Japan agree that in case Japan, acting in concert with another power or independently, commits an act of aggression against one or more of the other Parties, each of them will assist in defending the state or states which are the victims of aggression by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with other Parties, such action consistent with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations as it deems necessary to restore and maintain the security of such state or states.

article 3

It is mutually agreed by all the Parties that in case an act of aggression is committed against Japan from any source, each of the Parties will assist in defending Japan by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with other Parties, such action consistent with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations as it deems to be in accordance with its capacity and necessary to restore and maintain the security of Japan.

[The Parties note the provisions in the Japanese Constitution relative to the renunciation of war and the use of armed forces and agree that Japan and one or more of the powers which have heretofore furnished forces under the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers will conclude an agreement concerning the use of such facilities in Japan as may be required for the purpose of effectively carrying out their responsibilities under this Article.]^*

article 4

It is agreed by all the Parties that they will, from time to time, review the conditions affecting security with respect to Japan. It is further agreed that the Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of them is threatened by aggression referred to in Article 2 or 3.

article 5

Any act of aggression referred to in Article 2 or 3 and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council of the United Nations and any measures of self-defense shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore international peace and security.

article 6

This agreement shall remain in force for twenty years.

Signature is open to the powers initially negotiating the peace treaty and Japan.²

1. This is the last draft of the security agreement prepared in the Department prior to the Secretary’s meeting with Secretary Johnson on April 24; however, it is not certain this draft was forwarded to Mr. Acheson. See also the document and notes supra.
2. This provision would be included if bases on Japan are determined to constitute a United States military requirement. [Footnote and brackets in the source text.]
2. A memorandum of April 14 titled “Outline of Peace and Security Settlement,” not printed, which was among those materials transmitted to the Secretary by Mr. Butterworth on April 17, read in part: “The Department suggests for consideration a multilateral security arrangement participated in by the powers which initially negotiated the peace treaty and Japan. The former would perhaps include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, possibly the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.” (694.001/4–1450)