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

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

Tokyo, May 16, 1957—7 p.m.

2641. Deptel 2381.²

1. As result informal and confidential meetings US representative with FonOff and Justice Ministry officials for purpose agreeing on definitive arrangements for disposition issue of jurisdiction accordance instructions DA–921933 (reported to Washington by FE 805032),³ US–Japan Joint Committee today approved following recommendation received from Criminal Jurisdiction Subcommittee: “without regard to question of whether alleged offense of Girard arose in performance of official duty it is recommended that US military authories notify Japanese authorities in accordance with paragraph 3–c of article [garble—XVII] of the Administrative Agreement, that it has decided not to exercise jurisdiction in this case.”

[Numbered paragraph 2 (2½ lines of source text) not declassified]⁴

MacArthur

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.56394/5–1657. Confidential.
2. Document 131.
3. DA 921933 is Document 130. FE 805032, dated May 14, is not printed. (Department of State, Central Files, 711.551/5–2057; also attached to the memorandum infra. )
4. In telegram 2660, May 18, the Embassy reported on Japanese press reaction to the Joint Comittee’s decision, and remarked: “There has been little or no comment.” (Department of State, Central Files, 711.56394/5–1657)