1. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Japan2
1333. Sebald asked Ambassador Iguchi come in receive Department’s comments Yoshida proposal “high command” Southeast Asia to seize anti-communist propaganda offensive.3 Sebald said we greatly appreciate Japanese interest concerting with US and other nations this purpose but believe proposal would conflict Manila Pact. Suggested informal high-level bilateral consultative body Tokyo already proposed by US might serve similar purpose more effectively.
Iguchi said mid-December UK has responded Yoshida proposal by suggesting trilateral or quadrilateral (including France) consultative body Tokyo to exchange information re Communist activities and [Page 2] perhaps develop plans counter them. Sebald said initiative might be left Japanese Foreign Office develop this idea further.4 Memo conversation5 pouched.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 790.5/1–455. Confidential. Drafted and approved in NA.↩
- See the U.S. summary minutes of a meeting held November 9, 1954, and McClurkin’s memorandum of a conversation held December 30, 1954, both in Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, vol. XIV, Part 2, pp. 1779 and 1816, respectively.↩
- Further documentation on this subject has not been found in Department of State files.↩
- Not found.↩