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

81. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, July 6, 1956¹

Washington, July 6, 1956

SUBJECT

• Reaffirmation of Japan’s Friendly Attitude and Policy toward the United States

PARTICIPANTS

• Mr. Tadao Kuraishi, Japanese Minister of Labor
• Ambassador Tani, Embassy of Japan
• Mr. Tanaka, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan
• Mr. Oosawa, Personal Secretary to Minister of Labor
• Mr. Shimanouchi, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan
• Mr. Hoover, Acting Secretary
• Mr. Parsons, Acting Director, Office of Northeast Asian Affairs

Mr. Hoover extended a warm welcome on behalf of himself, the Secretary and the Department of State to Mr. Kuraishi and expressed his pleasure that Mr. Kuraishi was able to visit the State Department on his current trip home from Geneva.

Mr. Kuraishi stated that before his departure from Japan both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister had requested him to stop in Washington and to confer with the top United States officials for the specific purpose of clearing away any possible misunderstanding in the United States regarding the policy of the Japanese Government toward the United States. He stated that there have been reports in the press in Japan that many American officials have concluded that Japan may soon make an easy political accommodation with the USSR in the interest of early normalization of relations between Japan and the USSR. He understood that the same type of reports had been appearing in newspapers in the United States. Such reports are garbled and reflect a clear misunderstanding of Japan’s policy on this question; there in no intention on the part of the Japanese Government to follow such an easy line when negotiations on the peace treaty are reopened.

Mr. Hoover assured Mr. Kuraishi that there is no question in our minds about the intentions of the Japanese Government. We understand that the press does sometimes have reports that do not reflect the true policy of the Government. This also happens in the United States. He added that the Secretary had told him about his excellent conversations with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and other Japanese officials in Japan during his visit there in March.

Mr. Kuraishi said that with respect to Red China there are segments of the Japanese public and political groups in Japan who advocate closer relations. In particular, these groups are pushing for increased trade with Red China. However, it is the firm intention of the Japanese Government not to act unilaterally in relation to these matters. The Government will consult fully and will act in concert with the United States. This assurance Mr. Kuraishi was extending at the specific request of both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.

Mr. Hoover expressed appreciation for Mr. Kuraishi’s extension of these assurances. He added that particularly with respect to Red China the American public has very deep feelings. Accordingly, Japanese actions in relation to Red China, if not well coordinated with the United States, could be misunderstood and lead to difficulties in relations between Japan and the United States. Mr. Hoover added that he believed the Secretary had pointed out in his discussion with Japanese officials that the Japanese Government would be wise to make sure that the advantages which it desired in any possible relations with the USSR were securely “nailed down” before the Japanese Government agreed to the Soviet’s wishes.

In response to a question from Mr. Hoover, regarding his travel plans, Mr. Kuraishi stated that he had received a telephone call from Tokyo on June 5 requesting his return with the utmost dispatch. Accordingly, he is returning to Japan by way of the Pacific as quickly as possible.

Mr. Kuraishi stated that the development of the United States air bases in Japan is not proceeding as rapidly as desired by both the Japanese and the United States Governments. Mr. Kuraishi has responsibilities in connection with expediting these developments, and he will exert his efforts to move the matter ahead as quickly as possible. There is, of course, some resistance in Japan, particularly on the part of the Socialists; however, the vast majority of the people in Japan are in favor of moving ahead. Recently the Government has established a Defense Council, whose members are Mr. Kuraishi, the Chief of the Defense Agency, and the Ministers of Finance and Construction. This group, too, will bend its efforts to expedite the defense buildup in Japan.

Mr. Hoover appreciated both Mr. Kuraishi’s explanation and the difficulties which the Japanese face in this particular situation. He explained that we regard the development of the defense of Japan in the context of mutual security and are giving every possible consideration, in conjunction with the Department of Defense, to its development in ways which will minimize the difficulties.

Mr. Kuraishi asked for a sympathetic understanding by the United States of the confused political situation in Japan. He explained that the Socialist Party is unpredictable. He added that unlike the Labor Party in Great Britain, who would undoubtedly continue close association with the United States should they be returned to a position of leadership, there is no guarantee that the Socialists in Japan will not move away from the free world should they at some future date obtain control of the government in Japan. Of course, not all members of the Socialist Party take this position. Some of the more conservative members would clearly desire to continue Japan’s orientation to the free world. In addition to the Socialists, some Labor leaders desire to move away from Japan’s orientation toward the free world. Although the vast majority of the Japanese people desire close alignment with the United States and other free nations, these small elements among the Socialist and Labor groups becloud the situation and add confusion on the Japanese scene.

Mr. Hoover stated that with respect to the defense of Japan he would like to add that the United States is moving as fast as possible to reduce United States forces in Japan. In this situation, however, we are guided heavily by Japan’s own desires in relation to the augmentation of her defense forces. Since these matters are closely related, we do not want to create difficulties by our own actions and are most anxious to have any suggestions which the Government of Japan could give us on the matter.

Mr. Kuraishi explained that one of the prime objectives of the present Japanese Government is to create increased stability, both political and economic, in Japan. Such increased stability will permit an increased understanding on the part of the Japanese public of Japan’s need for continued close relations with Western nations, particularly the United States. To further this end, the Government has sought and obtained legislative authority to establish a Defense Council and a Constitution Revision Committee. They have also obtained legislative authority to reform the school board system. In addition, the Government attempted to reform the electoral system by establishing smaller electoral districts. However, they were unable to obtain passage of this measure in the last Diet session. As Labor Minister, Mr. Kuraishi is bending his efforts to help achieve the objectives of the Government by improving the housing conditions for laborers, taking other actions which will increase the stability among the working population in Japan, and although his plans are not yet fully developed, he is thinking of other actions and may, he said, need to come to the United States for help in implementing some of these plans. Mr. Hoover assured Mr. Kuraishi that the United States Government will do what it can to be of help in this situation, and we will certainly watch the developments with great interest. He added that the type of economic system which we have in the United States and which is also prevalent in Japan certainly provides the best basis for handling the types of problems which Mr. Kuraishi referred to. Our own economic system has brought great strength to the United States. We are certain that the Conservative Party in Japan and the Minister of Labor agree that this type of system will solve Japan’s economic and political problems much more quickly and more successfully than those plans which the more radical elements would adopt.

Mr. Hoover referred to the current problem in the United States resulting from textile imports from Japan. He assured Mr. Kuraishi that the Executive Branch is bending every effort to prevent the establishment of quotas or other types of legislation which would freeze imports from Japan at an undesirably low level. In this connection, the Government is very appreciative of the restraint which the Government of Japan has demonstrated in handling the problem of exports from Japan. He added that a continuation of this policy of restraint should be helpful to the efforts of the Executive Branch in connection with the question of imports from Japan. At this juncture, we are hopeful that legislation which would arbitrarily restrict imports from Japan will not be passed, but we can not be certain on the question.² This is a political year and Americans take politics very seriously. Over and above this, as far as textiles are concerned, the United States industry has recently moved to the south, and now for the first time in history there is developing a protectionist sentiment among representatives of the south.

Mr. Kuraishi indicated that there have been statements in the Japanese press which indicate that some Americans think the United States can not be sure of the direction in which Japan will move in its relations toward the United States on the one hand and the USSR and Communist China on the other. Consequently, according to these reports, little effort should be given in the United States to help Japan in the current textile situation. He added that there can be no doubt about Japan’s future course in relation to its orientation toward the free world, and he hoped that this misunderstanding among the American public would not deter the United States Government from making decisions that will be helpful in connection with Japan’s textile export situation.

After an exchange of most cordial farewells, Mr. Kuraishi, Ambassador Tani and Mr. Hoover were photographed by photographers from the many wire services in Washington.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.94/7–656. Confidential. Drafted by Parsons on July 7.
2. On June 28, the Senate defeated two amendments to the then-pending Mutual Security bill which would have imposed quotas on imports of cotton textiles. The Mutual Security Act of 1956 was approved, without any such amendments, on July 18. For text, see 70 Stat. 555. In a September 27 note to the Department, Japan undertook to expand in 1957 the voluntary export controls on cotton goods already in effect during 1956, provided the U.S. Government would take “all feasible steps” to solve the “problem of discriminatory state textile legislation and to prevent further restrictive action with regard to the importation of Japanese textiles into the United States.” For text, see Department of State Bulletin, October 8, 1956, p. 554. Documentation on the subject of Japanese textile exports is in Department of State, Central Files 411.9412, 411.9441, 411.946, 411.949, and 493.9441.