121. Letter From the Secretary of State to the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)1
Dear Mr. Secretary: I wish to call to your attention a series of press reports concerning an Atomic Task Force and atomic-capable guided missiles for Japan, attributed to sources in the Department of Defense, which have evoked a most unfortunate reaction in Japan.
The initial reports, datelined Washington on January 16 and 17, concerned the withdrawal of the First Cavalry Division from Japan and the possible assignment of an Atomic Task Force to Japan. In order to counter the adverse effect of these reports in Japan, the Department of State and the Department of Defense issued a joint press release denying that decisions of this character had been made.2
In reliance on this press release, Foreign Minister Kishi was able to counter successfully Socialist interpellations in the Japanese Diet attacking the Government. However, the disclosure, attributed to authoritative United States military sources in Tokyo, that the United States planned to install Matador guided missiles on Formosa led to a series of press reports from Washington, based upon Department of Defense statements, concerning the provision of guided missiles to Japan.3 The feasibility and timing of a press release on the installation of Matador missiles in Formosa was at that time under “top secret” consideration in the Department of State.
The press reports concerning the furnishing of guided missiles to Japan were particularly unfortunate in that they caused the Japanese to tie together the issue of United States–furnished equipment and Japanese security legislation. As a result of this publicity, the Director General of the Japanese Defense Agency announced on February 8 that the Japanese Cabinet had decided to cancel plans to introduce in the present Diet session legislation to protect security of military information. Legislation of this sort is essential to the interests of the United States in our relations with Japan.
[Page 270]A further and more serious consequence which followed upon opposition attacks on the Japanese Government based upon these press reports was a decision by the Japanese Cabinet that assent, if asked for, would not be given to the stationing in Japan of an Atomic Task Force. [1 sentence (2½ lines of source text) not declassified]
In view of the great sensitivity which attaches to the question of atomic weapons in Japan, I would suggest that any announcements which are contemplated concerning this issue be subject to prior consultation between the Departments of State and Defense, and between the American Embassy and the Far East Command in Tokyo, to make certain that we are furthering our own interests by the release of such information to the public.
Sincerely yours,
- Source: Department of State, FE Files: Lot 59 D 19, W. Confidential. Drafted in NA.↩
- See Documents 114 and 118.↩
- Documentation on this second group of press reports, which appeared in late January and early February, is in Department of State, Central File 794.5 for January and February 1957, and in Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 61 A 1672, 471.6 Japan. Materials in the latter file indicate that the Japanese Government had, through the MAAG in Japan, requested samples of guided missiles for inspection and research purposes in November 1955, and that the JCS had in May 1956 expressed itself favorably regarding the request. No action had been taken, however, because of what U.S. officials perceived as an inadequate security system in Japan.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩