Lot 54 D 4231
The Prime Minister of Japan (Yoshida) to the Consultant to the Secretary (Dulles)
Dear Mr. Dulles, Vice Minister Iguchi has reported to me your views on the questions of the peace treaty, Japanese delegation, China, [Page 1242] etc., which were informally discussed by him with Ambassador Sebald in the course of their conversation last Saturday, August 4. I wish to state for your information the position of my government vis-à-vis these questions.
(1) I am doing my utmost to send a non-partisan delegation to San Francisco so as to demonstrate the overwhelming support of the Japanese people for the proposed peace treaty as well as their appreciation of the American policy of goodwill and generosity. We plan to convene the Diet shortly, which will approve the appointment of the delegates and also pass a resolution, thanking the American government’s—especially, your own—efforts in drafting a fair and magnanimous treaty.
My Party (Liberal), commanding an absolute majority in the House of Representatives, is, of course, united in support of the treaty.
The Democratic Party is reserving the nomination of its representative until after the close of the Diet session, although the Democrats in the House of Councillors favor the party’s participation even now. As a matter of fact, none of the Democrats has any objection to the draft treaty. Their wrangling is merely a political move for face-saving.
The Ryoku Fu Kai and minor parties have already agreed to join, as you may have learned from press despatches.
As for the Socialists, they are not in a position to come out in support of the treaty unless and until they modify their party platform for an over-all peace. However, the right-wing and the middle-road members of that party have always indicated their approbation of the treaty. It is anticipated that by the time of ratification a majority of the party will have come round to its support.
(2) I well understand your apprehensions concerning the China problem. For the moment we are planning to send an economic adviser to the Formosa government (Mr. Isao Kawada, former Minister of Finance, is recommended by the Finance Minister), and to set up an overseas government agency on the island following the signature of the peace treaty. I can assure you most definitely that the Japanese government has no intention to conclude a bilateral treaty with the Communist regime.
Let me conclude by thanking you for the kind telegram you sent through Ambassador Sebald.2 I look forward to the pleasure of seeing you again in San Francisco.3
Yours sincerely,
- The source text cited in the heading was airpouched. Text of the letter was also transmitted in telegram 278 from Tokyo, August 7, marked “For Dulles “(694.001/8–751)↩
- Reference uncertain.↩
- In telegram 211, August 9, marked “For Sebald from Dulles,” the latter asked the Adviser to thank the Prime Minister for this letter. He then called attention to a number of reasons why he felt it in the interest of Japan to “soon develop status of peace” with the Republic of China. “I call attention these factors as relevant without, however, in any way desiring derogate from responsibility of Jap Govt freely to make its own decisions in this matter which will, to an important degree, affect future relations of Jap with China and other countries.” (694.001/8–951)↩