Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, China and Japan, Volume XIV, Part 2

794.0221/1–3052

No. 491
Memorandum by the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Allison) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State (Matthews)

top secret

[ Washington ,] January 30, 1952.

Subject:

• JCS Position on Interim Policy Guidance with respect to Japan and the Draft Directive to CINCFE on Facilities and Areas.¹

We have received an advance copy of the comments of the Joint Chiefs of Staff² on the Interim Policy Guidance and the Draft Directive. Attached is a copy of what we have received. We understand that Defense will probably transmit these JCS comments to us without any comments of their own. So far as the Policy Guidance is concerned, the JCS have no objection except for one minor point which arises through a misunderstanding. We believe this difficulty can readily be eliminated.

On the other hand the JCS are in complete disagreement with both the substance and timing of the Draft Directive. The chief points made by them are as follows:

1. The general theory of moving out of downtown areas of Japanese metropolitan centers is fine, but there are practical difficulties. In particular the Dai Ichi Building should be retained so long as military operations in Korea continue or any other major military operations in the Far East are in process.³

2. No Directive should be issued until the President has determined post-Treaty relationships between CINCFE and the United States Ambassador.

3. The JCS believe that the Japanese situation demands special relationships between the Ambassador and the military. In particular the CINCFE should retain full responsibility for administering any military assistance program even if it is necessary to amend existing legislation in order to make it possible. In addition, on any matters “affecting the security of CINCFE’s forces or the execution of operational plans, as determined by CINCFE, the decision of CINCFE” should prevail pending resolution of the issue in Washington.

The Joint Chiefs are transmitting their comments to CINCFE. We are sending a summary of them by telegram to Mr. Rusk and will air pouch a copy of the detailed comments. As soon as we know the nature of the Defense letter of transmittal, we will have for you some recommendations as to further action.⁴

1. Drafts of both these documents were transmitted to the Department of Defense as enclosures to a letter of Jan. 18, from Matthews to Nash. (611.94/1–1852)
2. Memorandum by the JCS to the Secretary of Defense dated Jan. 28, not printed, but see footnote 3 below.

3. The Joint Chiefs also stated on this point:

   “The Joint Chiefs of Staff are in agreement with General Ridgway’s view that for purposes of prestige, as well as for military reasons, his headquarters should be located in Tokyo during the post-treaty period.”

4. Documents in files 794.0221 and 611.94 for February 1952, indicate that instead of the procedure described here, officials of both Departments conferred informally, with the result that the Joint Chiefs of Staff prepared a new version of the draft directive, which in its final form was transmitted to the Secretary of State under cover of a letter dated Feb. 8 from Deputy Secretary Foster. (611.94/2–852) This draft directive, which left for further discussion between the two Departments the question of post-Treaty relationships between CINCFE and the Ambassador to Japan, is identical to the text submitted to the President on Feb. 15 under cover of Document 512.