694.001/12–2751
Memorandum by the Consultant to the Secretary (Dulles) to the Secretary of State
In the course of conversations with Mr. Sebald at Tokyo yesterday,1 he told me that Prime Minister Yoshida had given him a letter to me dealing with relations with China and designed to clear up certain ambiguities resulting from statements made in the Diet debate on peace treaty ratification. I understand that the letter indicates that the Japanese Government is prepared to conclude with the Nationalist Government of China, if that Government so desires, a treaty which will establish normal relations in conformity with the principles set out in the multilateral Treaty of Peace, such treaty to be applicable to all territories now or hereafter under control of the Nationalist Government. The letter, I understand, reaffirms the prior statement of Yoshida to me that the Japanese Government has no intention to conclude a bilateral treaty with the Communist regime of China.
I understand that Prime Minister Yoshida desires that no use should be made of this letter without prior notification to him and that meanwhile it be kept strictly confidential and also that he assumes that before any use is made of it, we will make an effort at the Truman-Churchill talks to get U.K. acquiescence in this line of policy.
The Department is cabling Sebald to forward the original letter to me by diplomatic pouch and I suggest that, at least pending the receipt of the actual letter, knowledge of it be kept limited to yourself and Mr. Allison.2