611.94/4–1453: Telegram

No. 677
The Ambassador in Japan (Allison) to the Department of State

secret
priority

421. For Robertson, FE. I am somewhat surprised and disappointed that Secretary’s answers to questionnaire by Murayama of Asahi, which I assume were drafted by FE, were not cleared with Embassy prior to release. This is particularly true in view of the lukewarm if not hostile attitude toward America constantly displayed by Asahi. These answers are published today in Japanese press under headline “Dulles reiterates hopes Japan will boost defense”. While actual answers to questions from American point of view and from normal point of view, are unexceptionable, nevertheless continued reiteration publicly at this time of American desire for Japanese rearmament will not have good effect in Japan. This is particularly true coming so soon after Reston article which exposed fact that Secretary had taken stiff position with Yoshida regarding rearmament.1 Political situation in Japan is so delicate that in my opinion there should be no public statements by American officials regarding desires for rearmament no matter how carefully phrased. I intend as do all other officers of Embassy to reiterate privately to all appropriate Japanese officials our concern over slowness in Japanese rearmament. However, any public statement by United States officials is only taken as interference and is used by opposition and by Communists as stick with which to beat government. I am convinced that steady, quiet pressure on Japanese Government will bring desired result, that constant public pressure will only resuIt in putting up backs of Japanese Government and [Page 1486] requiring them in public to take even more negative attitude than at present.

It should also be pointed out that with respect to United States statement of April 13 [15]2 on continuation of procurement in Japan which is mentioned in question and answer series, Japanese have interpreted this as commitment on part of United States Government. This statement has also been interpreted by opposition as being designed to help Yoshida’s party in last election and resentment at its publication is, in some quarters, said to have been largely responsible for Liberal Party not obtaining Diet majority.

Japanese are particularly sensitive to question of collective security and implication that any participation in collective security arrangements will require use of Japanese troops abroad. While I am convinced that if necessity arose Japanese troops would probably be made available for common good, I believe that any prior public discussion only increases difficulty of achieving this end.

In connection with such public statements it is important to bear in mind that up to the present United States Government has not taken Japanese Government into its confidence with regard to United States plans and desires in the Pacific area and that until such time as United States is willing to sit down and talk with Japanese at least as frankly and in as much detail as we have already with Philippines and Korea, Japanese Government will be reluctant to act merely on United States demand without knowing reasons therefore.

Allison
  1. New York Times, August 10, 1953, p. 1.
  2. See footnote 3, Document 644.