243. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, October 31, 19571
SUBJECT
- Economic Relations with Japan
PARTICIPANTS
- Governor Thomas E. Dewey
- The Under Secretary
- Deputy Under Secretary Dillon
Governor Dewey requested a luncheon appointment with the Under Secretary and Mr. Dillon. The purpose of his visit was primarily to discuss the reactions of Mr. Kono to his recent visit to Washington. Governor Dewey reported that Mr. Kono had been extremely disturbed by his lack of success in Washington and his inability to gain any sort of backing for his project of Japanese-American collaboration in the development of Southeast Asia. Governor Dewey said that he had informed Mr. Kono that he felt the Japanese Government had made a mistake in not clearly indicating, by means of a letter from the Prime Minister or some similar method, that Mr. Kono was speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister or Foreign Minister. He pointed out to Mr. Kono that the U.S. Government normally dealt with foreign governments through their Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, or Ambassadors, and it was not possible to deal through other political leaders no matter how important they might be.
Governor Dewey then said that Mr. Kono was very important in the Japanese political scene, and that he personally felt that it was essential that something be done to expand Japanese trade relations with Southeast Asia if the present conservative government was to continue in Japan. He felt that Mr. Kono’s proposals were an improvement over earlier proposals by Kishi and others that the U.S. put up all the money for any Japanese-American development program in Southeast Asia.
[Page 533]It was pointed out to Governor Dewey that there was real doubt as to whether the countries of Southeast Asia were prepared for closer cooperation with the Japanese on any broad scale basis. It was also pointed out to him that it would be an unwise policy for the U.S. to make any broad commitment to the Japanese to underwrite a Japanese development program in Southeast Asia. Governor Dewey readily agreed with the latter point but felt that it would be worthwhile for the U.S. to make a real effort to promote greater Japanese activity in the area, as this was the only way to maintain an economically viable Japan.
Governor Dewey was also told that Mr. Kono had been informed that the U.S. was prepared to consider any specific project which the Japanese Government might recommend and that the U.S. preferred to operate on the basis of specific projects rather than any over-all basis.
When he left Governor Dewey indicated that he intended to write to Mr. Kishi and Mr. Kono and inform them that he had discussed Japanese problems with the Under Secretary and Mr. Dillon, and suggest to Mr. Kishi and Mr. Kono that it might be worthwhile for the Japanese to propose specific projects to the U.S. Government for Southeast Asian development.
- Source: Department of State, FE Files: Lot 59 D 19, MC—Miscellaneous 1957. Confidential. Drafted by Dillon.↩