Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Japan, Volume XXIII, Part 1

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

Tokyo, March 14, 1957—1 p.m.

2010. I saw Kishi alone this morning (only his interpreter present) and conveyed invitation visit Washington May 8–10 where he would stay President’s guest house. I said if he accepted invitation White House desired earliest possible simultaneous announcement Washington–Tokyo, and White House would like make announcement 12 noon Washington time on agreed date. I gave him draft text contained Deptel 1942² explaining this preliminary draft to indicate general lines announcement. I said I assumed announcement made Tokyo would be on same lines and stressed importance making quite clear purpose of visit is for useful discussions topics of mutual interest and not for purpose negotiating and reaching agreement specific problems. I explained text of announcements both Tokyo and Washington must avoid building up false expectations as to purpose and nature visit since obviously in three-day visit it would not be possible negotiate out agreements on specific issues. I concluded by emphasizing invitation must be held in strictest confidence until announcement made.

Kishi deeply touched by invitation and asked his “heartfelt appreciation be expressed to President Eisenhower”. He said he would keep invitation strictly confidential. He then went on to say Diet would still be in session during period proposed for visit, which posed certain problems. While he confident budget would be passed by upper house April 3 and while he did not believe there would be substantive bills before Parliament requiring serious debate after end of April and prior Diet adjournment May 17 or 18 he could not be reasonably sure of this for another week or ten days. Also Liberal Democratic Party convention would be held March 21 when he expected be elected President LDP. If party convention went well and he elected President, he felt this would do much to stabilize internal political situation. Therefore with these two considerations in mind it would be week or ten days before he could definitely state whether possible make Washington visit May 8–10.³

He concluded by reiterating his deep appreciation to President and saying his reply would be forthcoming within week or ten days. He hoped would be possible accept dates proposed by President as he knew President’s schedule very heavy.

Kishi then went on say before he received this invitation it had been his intention have discussions with me on pending matters of importance between Japan and US and also on over–all matters. He believed such discussions would do much to get greater mutual understanding on common problems and thus aid in arriving at constructive solutions. He had in mind meeting with me perhaps twice a week, for about two hours each time, to cover wide range problems and questions. He envisaged about eight or ten meetings. He felt if he were going to Washington such meetings were even more necessary. He said while such meetings could not be kept secret, he attached greatest importance to holding in strict confidence content and substance such discussions.

I said I would welcome such discussions since in first instance I wanted get his general views on situation this important part of world and also on specific matters of mutual interest. I wholeheartedly shared view conversations be kept confidential. I referred to comment he made that relations between US and Japan were entering new phase which could be very fruitful for both countries, and said I would also like have his thinking about future relationship.

If we could know in more detail lines along which he was thinking re general situation and specific issues, we would be in better position to see what we might do to promote closer relations which we earnestly desired. He said he would discuss meetings further when he gave me reply re visit.⁴

We agreed that in answer to press queries re our meeting today we would hold strictly to following:

Begin: American Ambassador paid courtesy call on Prime Minister Kishi this morning. Matters of substance were not discussed although their conversation touched upon possibility Prime Minister Kishi visiting US later this year. End.

However in view state [spate?] of stories from Washington and Tokyo published in press here past several days re visit, Japanese press which is very inventive will undoubtedly have us discussing visit and any number other subjects.

MacArthur

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 033.9411/3–1457. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution.
2. Dated March 12, not printed. (Ibid.)
3. Kishi was unable to accept the invitation to visit Washington in May, but instead accepted an invitation for June 19–21. (Ibid., 033.9411 and 123–MacArthur, Douglas)
4. On April 4, the same day he accepted the June invitation, Kishi gave MacArthur the following agenda for these talks: 1) general analysis of problems in U.S.-Japanese relations; 2) policies and measures to eliminate these problems, including security and defense arrangements; 3) territorial problems; 4) U.S.-Japanese cooperation in economic development of Southeast Asia; 5) U.S.-Japanese trade relations; 6) the problem of trade with Communist China; 7) review of world and East Asian situations; and 8) others. (Telegram 2205 from Tokyo, April 4; ibid., 033.9411/4–457) Telegraphic correspondence concerning these talks is ibid., 611.94.