Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Japan; Korea, Volume XVIII

153. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Japan ⁰

Washington, May 9, 1960.

2599. Eyes only for Ambassador from Secretary. Embtels 3590, 3592,¹ Deptel 2596.²

1. In light your estimate situation in Japan, we are prepared to conclude specific undertaking with GOJ that we will not in absence armed attack against Japan fly any intelligence missions over non-Japanese territories from US facilities in Japan without prior consultation with GOJ. We desire to conclude this undertaking within framework Consultation Agreement. We would also give public assurances that lacking consent of GOJ we would not undertake such flights contrary to express wishes of GOJ.

2. With respect to past performance you may give Kishi assurance that U–2 equipment has been utilized only for legitimate scientific purposes. Realize such assurance will be accepted with some doubt in view recent happenings but our posture will certainly be none the worse for giving this assurance even with respect to past performance.

3. We also consider that it would be strongly in our interest to make public statement soonest along following lines: “US Government has given GOJ assurances that U–2 aircraft flying from air bases in Japan, have been utilized only for legitimate normal purposes and not intelligence overflight missions.”³

Herter

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 794.56311/5–960. Secret; Niact. Drafted by Steeves and Sneider, cleared in INR and S/S, and approved by the Secretary. The time of transmission is illegible.
1. In telegrams 3590 and 3592, May 9, the Ambassador argued that to save the revised security treaty in the light of the situation arising in Japan from the U–2 incident, it would be necessary to assure Kishi and his government that U–2 flights from Japan would make no illegal overflights of foreign airspace and, if the United States was able, to assure them also that no such overflights had been conducted in the past. (Both ibid., 794.56311/5–960) See Supplement.
2. Telegram 2596, May 9, promised a reply to telegram 3590 at the earliest possible moment. (Department of State, Central Files, 794.56311/5–960)
3. In telegram 3603 from Tokyo, May 10, MacArthur reported that he had been asked to convey Kishi’s “deep and heartfelt thanks” to Eisenhower for this “constructive proposal,” and that the Embassy would issue a statement along these lines shortly. (Ibid., 794.56311/5–1060) See Supplement.