794.5/8–1151
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of Defense (Marshall)
My Dear Mr. Secretary: Thank you very much for your letter of August 111 forwarding the drafts, as agreed to informally between the Departments of State and Defense, of a United States–Japan Security Treaty2 and an accompanying note to the Prime Minister of Japan to be signed by the Secretary of State.3
The draft of the United States–Japan Security Treaty as forwarded in your letter does represent the final text of that document.4 It is planned to sign it at San Francisco promptly following the signature of the Treaty of Peace with Japan.
The exchange of notes with the Prime Minister of Japan will take place at the time of signature of the Security Treaty. As Mr. Dulles informed your representatives during the discussion of this document, however, it may be that the language at the end of the second paragraph and at the beginning of the third paragraph will need to be altered somewhat in the light of what actually happens in Korean armistice discussions. It may also be necessary to eliminate the word “preventive” from the first sentence of the second paragraph since there is some question as to whether the current United Nations action in Korea is “preventive” or “enforcement” action.5 That part of the third paragraph, however, which sets forth Japan’s commitments represents the final wording of the note.
It is the intention, and will be kept within the power of the United States, to assure that the Security Treaty, with its accompanying exchange of notes, and the Administrative Agreement implementing the [Page 1273] Security Treaty, come into effect simultaneously with the Treaty of Peace.
The question of signing the Administrative Agreement at the same time as the other documents raises a number of practical difficulties. The Defense Department’s revision of the Agreement has not as yet been received in the Department of State and the time remaining between now and the departure for San Francisco is so short that it is doubted whether it is feasible to reach agreement between our two Departments and negotiate the details of such a complicated document with the Japanese before September 4. I am sure that you are well aware that the time of signing of this Agreement bears no relation to the time when it shall come into force.
The Department of State concurs with your view that publication of the Security Treaty should, if practicable, be delayed until signature.
It is noted that the Department of Defense would be glad to acquaint the Senate and House Armed Services Committees regarding the substance of the Security Treaty.
I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation of the cooperation shown by your office and the Joint Chiefs of Staff in enabling us to reach mutually satisfactory agreement on the terms of the Japanese Peace Treaty, the Bilateral Security Treaty and the notes to be exchanged.
Sincerely yours,
- Reference is to Mr. Lovett’s letter of that date, p. 1256.↩
- The draft is printed instead under its date of July 31, p. 1233.↩
- For information on this note, see the bracketed interpolation within the text of telegram 169, to Tokyo, August 2, p. 1234.↩
- See, however, the document and notes, infra.↩
- Modification of the final text is described in the reference cited in footnote 3 above.↩