Office of the Historian

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

Tokyo, September 4, 1957—6 p.m.

654. This is joint message from Stump and MacArthur.

Begin message: We have just left second meeting of Japanese-American Committee on Security. In response to request made in first meeting, CINCPAC had prepared secret statement to submit to committee re total troop withdrawals schedule for balance of fiscal year. Japanese members of committee had been previously impressed with classified nature such info, and it therefore was extremely embarrassing to US side to have morning editions of Japanese newspapers headlining a statement reputedly by a high official in Washington on same subject.

This particular serious incident is one of many which have repeatedly hampered efforts of our State and Defense Department personnel in Far East area. At a point in time when our negotiations with Far East countries are in delicate and critical state, ill-timed announcements from Washington are not only embarrassing but they seriously prejudice our attainment of recognized national objectives.

This was brought to attention State Dept in message sent this date by Ambassador (Tokyo Embtel 643).2

We recommend strongly that subject be brought to attention of all civilian secretaries in Dept of Defense and in three service depts, as well as key military personnel in those depts. Similar steps should be taken with appropriate personnel within Dept of State and NSC. End message.

Adm Stump is sending this message to Defense through his own channels.3

MacArthur
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 794.5/9–457. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to COMUS Japan and to CINCPAC for POLAD.↩
  2. In telegram 643 from Tokyo, also dated September 4, marked “For Robertson”, MacArthur stated that recent newspaper stories were “undermining our basic objectives in Japan as laid down by President and NSC.” One such story appearing in Tokyo September 2 had attributed to “top American officials” a statement that they were hoping U.S. force reductions in Japan would spur the Japanese Government into stepping up its rearmament pace. On September 4, morning papers carried a story attributed to “a highly reliable source” in Washington which referred to that day’s Security Committee meeting and then revealed the “information which Admiral Stump is going to convey to Japanese in Security Committee today.” (Ibid., 794.5/9–457)↩

  3. Telegram 654 to Tokyo, September 13, was drafted in NA and approved by Robertson, marked “Limit Distribution”, “No Distribution Outside the Department”, and “For Ambassador from Robertson”. It reads as follows:

    “Reftel [telegram 643] arrived during my absence on leave. Upon investigation astounded to find that initial discussion with press which led to development of story occurred in Department State. Officer in question has been vigorously reprimanded. In addition the entire FE staff has been warned of the seriousness of this type thing and instructed to handle conversations with representatives of press with full and adequate protection all classfied information.

    “With regard to general question of information leaks in Washington, Secretary took occasion in meeting with Secretary Quarles to express serious difficulties created by leaks in statements by officials which have not been cleared interdepartmentally. He pointed out that frequently such leaks place us in impossible positions.” (Ibid., 794.5/9–457)

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