Office of the Historian

86. Letter From the Secretary of State to the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)1

Washington, August 7, 1956.

Dear Mr. Secretary: Since my letter to you of June 22, 1956,2 on the Ryukyuan land problem and Assistant Secretary Gray’s reply of June [July]6,3 there has been an increase in concern about the United States administration of the Ryukyus in Japanese circles. As Ambassador Allison has pointed out in a series of messages which have been transmitted to the Department of Defense, our policies in the Ryukyus have clearly to be considered not only from the standpoint of sound local administration in the Ryukyus but also from the standpoint of our long-term relations with Japan. At the same time it appears that although the agitation within the Ryukyus on the land issue has somewhat subsided there remain basic underlying dissatisfactions that may rise to plague us again on other issues in the future.

I therefore request that our two departments consider together, before new decisions are taken or any existing decisions are executed, the policies to be applied in the following matters:

1.
The method of compensation for land used by our military forces. On this point the Department of State is now of opinion that the acquisition of long-term interest by lump sum payments should proceed most cautiously, and that until a procedure is devised which is basically acceptable to the Ryukyuan population and not susceptible to serious criticism in Japan, it would be preferable to continue to occupy the lands without any fixed term and on the payment of an annual rental. If the introduction of new methods should be delayed, it may be desirable to reexamine again the amount of the annual rentals.
2.
Additional land requirements of our forces in the Ryukyus, and in particular the plans of the Navy and the Marine Corps. On the basis of present information, the Department of State is of opinion that any plans calling for the withdrawal of further land from agriculture should be reconsidered.
3.
Command of United States forces in the Ryukyus upon the abolition of the Far East Command. This has significant political implications because of the interpretation which might be placed upon a separation of the Ryukyus from Japan in the United States command structure. At the same time the Department of State suggests that serious consideration be given to establishing direct communications on matters of civil administration between the administrative authorities in the Ryukyus and Washington. We also believe that policy guidance from Washington on civil matters should be regarded as a [Page 198] joint responsibility of the Department of Defense and the Department of State; and it appears desirable to establish some more formal mechanism for this purpose than now exists.

I do not suggest that these matters must all be resolved together or at the same time, and the Department of State will be glad to consider them through whatever procedure the Department of Defense regards as most fitting. With respect to timing, we would think it desirable, in view of the speculation which is bound to occur, that a decision on the third point be announced promptly. We are also inclined to think that it would be helpful if a statement of United States Government policy on the land problem could be made indicating that no solution will be pushed through hastily. Officers of the Department are discussing such a statement with officers of the Department of Defense.

Sincerely yours,

John Foster Dulles4
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 794C.0221/8–756. Confidential. Drafted in NA and cleared in FE and L.↩
  2. Document 79.↩
  3. See footnote 4, Document 79.↩
  4. Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩