Office of the Historian

127. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Japan1

Washington, April 18, 1957—12:42 p.m.

2268. Embtels 2304 through 2307.2 Apparent Department Kishi’s first talking paper3 sets tone and base for Japanese positions and requests. Department’s responsive talking paper4 likewise represents basic foundation for discussion during Kishi visit.

However appears Kishi may be losing sight purpose Washington visit namely discussions and exchanges of respective viewpoints but not negotiation although he himself stated this publicly at our request.

Suggest you appropriately remind Kishi that while we seek obtain and understand Japanese views through talks we do not regard talks as laying groundwork for negotiation during visit. Department concerned that repeated presentation specific proposals by Kishi in his talks with you will build up unwarranted expectations that conversations during visit will result acceptance Japanese views.

Department now preparing individual position papers for use during visit and will send you drafts for comment and suggestions. Department does not however regard favorably exchange of talking papers on all points Kishi agenda as this would tend freeze our position especially on more controversial problems.

FYI. As Japanese apparently have already completed extensive preparation for Kishi talks with you, difficulties our preparing timely and adequate responses and fact you may also find frequency of meetings disadvantageous, suggest you may wish consider desirability seeking less frequent meetings.5 End FYI.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.94/4–1857. Secret; Limit Distribution; No Distribution Outside Department. Drafted in NA, cleared in draft with Sebald, and approved by Parsons.↩
  2. All dated April 13. In telegram 2304, MacArthur described briefly the papers transmitted in telegram 2305 and 2306 of the same date (see footnotes 2 and 3, supra). In telegram 2307, MacArthur stated that in his oral reply to Kishi’s paper on Japanese public opinion (see footnote 4, supra) he had stressed the defensive nature of U.S. military preparations. (All Ibid., 611.94/4–1357)↩
  3. Apparent reference to Kishi’s paper on Japanese public opinion.↩
  4. Transmitted in telegram 2247 to Tokyo, April 16. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.00/4–1657)↩

  5. In telegram 2374, April 19, MacArthur stated his agreement with the points made by the Department, including the inadvisability of exchanging talking papers on all the points of the Kishi agenda and the desirability of less frequent meetings. However, the Ambassador also stated his belief that following the completion of Kishi’s presentations, a few further oral exchanges of views would be useful as a preliminary to the Washington visit. (Ibid., 611.94/4–1957)

    In a meeting with Kishi, April 20, MacArthur stressed that the United States was not regarding the talking papers as specific proposals but as a basis for a full exchange of views in Washington. He left with Kishi the talking paper transmitted in telegram 2247. (Telegram 2379 from Tokyo, April 20; ibid., 611.94/4–2057)

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