Office of the Historian

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

Tokyo, December 15, 1955—7 p.m.

1371. Japanese evidencing considerable bitterness as result exclusion from UN membership proposal approved yesterday by Security Council. News of Security Council action virtually blanketed front page afternoon papers. Japanese stunned by unexpected development. Immediate reaction has been criticism government handling UN membership question and re-evaluation Japanese position in London negotiations with USSR.2

Prior receipt report yesterday’s action by Security Council, every Tokyo daily this morning played up membership question and devoted top editorial to subject. Editorials generally reflected strong disappointment and particularly critical of Nationalist Chinese for veto Outer Mongolia, predicting its position in UN will suffer. Soviet veto also criticized by Asahi, Yomiuri and several other papers.

After Security Council approved 16 nations, Socialists in upper and lower house Diet sessions this morning launched bitter criticism of government for failure assure Japanese admission to UN and inadequate attitude towards Commie China and Soviet Union. Socialists also threatening non-confidence motion against Foreign Minister. Hatoyama in Diet replied to Socialist attack, stating that it was not right change attitude toward the two Chinas before ascertaining international situation but agreeing to need for greater efforts in Japan-USSR talks, since “it our responsibility to take next best step”. Shigemitsu3 echoed need push London talks and also mentioned [Page 453] desire keep close relations with Afro-Asian bloc. Neither Shigemitsu nor Hatoyama pointedly critical of Soviet Union.

In other comment, Cabinet secretary Nemoto critical of Foreign Office for over-optimism and stated Soviet action points up “importance of London peace talks”. According Tokyo Shimbun,4 Foreign Office views Soviet veto as increasing demands for early conclusion Japan-USSR talks and forcing consideration compromise settlement on Southern Kuriles.

Allison
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 310.2/12–1555. Official Use Only.↩
  2. Reference is to discussions at London during 1955-1956 regarding the resumption of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Soviet Union.↩
  3. Mamoru Shigemitsu, Deputy Prime Minister of Japan and Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
  4. Japanese daily newspaper.↩