Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Foreign Aid and Economic Defense Policy, Volume X

134. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, September 13, 1956¹

Washington, September 13, 1956

SUBJECT

• Japanese Government Reaction to U.S. Proposal on Interim Maintenance of CHINCOM Controls

PARTICIPANTS

• Mr. Shima, Minister, Japanese Embassy
• Mr. Sato, Commercial Counselor, Japanese Embassy
• Mr. Suzuki, Second Secretary, Japanese Embassy
• Mr. Jones, Deputy Assistant Secretary, FE
• Mr. Ockey, NA
• Mr. Knoll, ECD
• Mr. Tucker, CA

Mr. Shima informed Mr. Jones that he had received instructions from his government responding to the U.S. Government proposals for interim maintenance of the CHINCOM controls which Mr. Jones had transmitted to Mr. Shima on September 8 preceding.² Mr. Shima specified that the Japanese Government’s reaction is covered under four points.

1. The Japanese Government is prepared to agree to the U.S. proposal for interim maintenance of the CHINCOM controls with the following understandings:

A) That the U.S. proposal covers only the period from the present to the convening of the Consultative Group next December. If a Consultative Group meeting is not held at that time, the Japanese Government would feel it necessary to reconsider its position.

B) That in the event that the governments of other participating countries do not agree to the U.S. proposal and insist upon further relaxation of the CHINCOM controls for the interim by use of the exceptions procedures, the Japanese Government would not be bound by its agreement to the U.S. proposal.

C) That any commodities to be exported to Communist China under the Document 471 and 450³ procedures would be authorized in CHINCOM only on a case-by-case basis and in strict accord with existing procedures.

2. Japan is willing to support the U.S. position on the need for uniformity in compliance with the CHINCOM controls and the desirability of effective multilateral continuance of the controls.

3. Japanese agreement is subject to the proviso that if the U.S. should increase the scope or the latitude permitted in its present interim position, the Japanese Government would expect to receive the same benefits as might be extended to any other government.

4. The Japanese Government wishes it understood that, even after the U.S. interim proposal may be “formally adopted by CHINCOM”, if other participating countries should not effectively conform to the proposal the Japanese Government would have to reconsider its own position in relation to the commodities concerned.

Mr. Jones expressed his appreciation of the Japanese Government’s support and particularly of the prompt reply made to the U.S. proposal which should be of considerable aid in obtaining general agreement. Mr. Jones confirmed that the U.S. Government accepts the conditions made by the Japanese Government as a part of its commitment.

Mr. Tucker mentioned that Minister Shima had referred to the “formal adoption” of the interim U.S. proposal and Minister Shima confirmed that it had been his impression that the U.S. proposal would be presented to CHINCOM. Mr. Tucker, with Mr. Knoll’s concurrence, explained to Mr. Shima that the U.S. hopes to achieve unanimity of participating countries by a series of informal bilateral understandings with each of these countries. No formal presentation to CHINCOM is contemplated.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 493.009/9–1356. Secret. Drafted by Tucker.
2. A memorandum of that conversation, drafted by Ockey, is ibid., 493.009/9–856.
3. CHINCOM Document 450 concerned prior notification procedures.