Office of the Historian

611.94/10–1251

Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Northeast Asian Affairs (Johnson) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs ( Rusk )

secret
[Washington,] October 12, 1951.

Subject: Administrative Agreement

Yesterday we had a discussion between Mr. McClurkin, Mr. Bond and myself, and Ken Young, General Hamblen1 and General Williams concerning the Administrative Agreement. Except for the jurisdictional provision on which the Army is still working in an attempt to arrive at a position closer to our views, we are very close to complete agreement upon the substance of the Administrative Agreement proper. Yesterday we agreed that:

(1)
State will redraft the agreement to the extent that it considers necessary in order to put the language into more acceptable form for presentation to the Japanese and eventual public release—NA and L are at work on this.
(2)
Because of urgent U.S. and Japanese budgetary considerations, an attempt should immediately be made to arrive at a U.S. Government position upon the financial clauses of the Administrative Agreement in order that consideration can be given to communicating these provisions to the Japanese prior to negotiation with the Japanese of the remainder of the agreement. We are very close to agreement with the Army on this and a meeting has been set up for Monday morning to arrive at agreement on text of this clause.2

It was the consensus of our meeting that the questions requiring high level discussion and decision were:

(1)
The whole problem of numbers and location of U.S. forces in Japan (in this regard we suggested that consideration be given to making two lists of facilities to be retained—one for those to be used until hostilities are terminated in Korea; the second, those to be used after the termination of hostilities in Korea and placing of the U.S. garrison in Japan on a normal basis. We also suggested that data be assembled and be available to you and Mr. Nash with regard to the cost that will be involved in various alternative plans, such as locating the headquarters entirely outside of any metropolitan area, movement of port and supply activities from Yokohama to Yokosuka, etc.).
(2)
On the assumption that hostilities in Korea will be continuing at the time the treaty comes into effect, what concrete physical moves could be made by the American forces that would unmistakably symbolize to all the change from occupation to garrison status?
(3)
The timing of negotiations with the Japanese of the Administrative Agreement, particularly in relation to the present Diet consideration of the Security Treaty, and the composition of the negotiating delegation.
(4)
Dependent upon the outcome of the present working level discussion, it may be necessary that high level consideration be given to the jurisdictional provisions of the agreement.

  1. Kenneth T. Young, Assistant to the Acting Director of the Office of Foreign Military Affairs in the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs; Brig. Gen. A. L. Hamblen, Special Assistant for Occupied Areas in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army.↩
  2. See Mr. McClurkin’s memorandum of October 17 to Mr. Rusk, infra.↩