Office of the Historian

162. Telegram From the Embassy in Japan to the Department of State1

Tokyo, May 16, 1957—6 p.m.

2634. Reference Paragraph 9 Polto 26912 repeated Tokyo Polto 28. As Department aware I urged Kishi to support United States proposals in CHINCOM. After consideration he took position differential between CHINCOM and Communists should be abolished. Position Kishi has taken reflects virtually unanimous view of Japanese people in all walks of life including socialists, conservatives, business, industry and labor and therefore is a domestic political issue of great importance to Kishi.

Because of tremendous pressure in Japan from all sectors of national life I doubt that Japanese Government will be disposed to accept position that is less liberal than position Britain is willing to accept.

Kishi however may possibly modify position to abolish differential if we are forthcoming enough and show sufficient flexibility in our position.

We must, of course, try maintain differential at highest feasible level but my fear is that if we try to maintain differential at too high level we risk collapse CHINCOM structure which will inevitably have effect on maintaining entire voluntary control structure.

I doubt that further representations to the Japanese Government will prove productive unless the modifications of United States proposal outlined paragraph 6 reference telegram are approved for presentation in Paris. In that case I can urge Japanese Government to support revised United States position although there is no certainty that suggested modifications will be acceptable to Japanese.

MacArthur
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 493.009/5–1657. Secret. Repeated to Paris and London.↩

  2. Dated May 14; paragraph 9 reads as follow:

    “USDel unaware possible recent discussions between Embassy Tokyo and Japan Government. However view intransigent position Japan delegate and his strong statement made today in CHINCOM criticizing United States proposal and politico-strategic rationale therefor, USDel and Washington team recommend Washington consider representations either by Department or in Tokyo urging some flexibility Japan position and sympathetic consideration United States proposed modification re exceptions procedures.” (Ibid., 493.009/5–1457)

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