Office of the Historian

184. Telegram From the Embassy in the Philippines to the Department of State0

Manila, June 16, 1960, 8 p.m.

Delto 5. Deliver following message from President to Prime Minister Kishi: Advise President’s party in Taipei date and time of delivery.1

“June 16, 1960 My Dear Prime Minister,

I have just received the news of your government’s decision to request postponement of my projected visit to Japan. I hasten to assure you of my full and sympathetic understanding of the situation that developed in spite of your strenuous efforts to avert it.

Further, I accept, without question, your conviction that the visit would now be untimely and could lead to even greater difficulty in your country. Of course I completely concur in your action in releasing your decision promptly.

I share your sadness that a violent minority could disrupt the proper and orderly processes of democratic government and compel the postponement of a visit that had no other purpose than to promote good will between the peoples of our two nations. I send to you assurances of my continued admiration and esteem and request that you convey to His Imperial Majesty2 my expressions of regret in missing this opportunity to meet him as well as my best wishes for his continued health and well-being. I should like, through you, to say to all those millions of Japanese who were ready to see in my planned visit a simple act of courtesy to a great people that the people of the United States will not allow a misguided fraction of the Japanese nation to lessen their friendship and admiration for the Japanese democracy.

Finally I should like for you again to assure His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince that I shall be looking forward with keen anticipation [Page 368] to the visit that he and the Crown Princess are to make to the United States this fall.3

Sincerely,

Dwight D. Eisenhower”

Observe Presidential handling.

Hickerson
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.11–EI/6–1660. Secret; Presidential Handling. Sent niact to Tokyo and repeated to the Department of State.↩
  2. MacArthur delivered the letter to Kishi at 11:45 a.m. June 17. (Telegram 4278, June 17; ibid., 711.11–EI/6–1760) See Supplement. The President also sent a telegram to MacArthur that reads: “Dear Doug: I think I have some faint understanding of what you have just been through. I extend my very best to you and Tahwee. Sincerely, DE” (Telegram 175 from Manila to Tokyo, June 16; Department of State, Central Files, 711.11–EI/6–1660)↩
  3. The Emperor, through Ambassador MacArthur, sent a message of regret to the President that reads as follows: “The Empress and I had been looking forward eagerly to receiving you in Japan. It is to our intense regret that your visit did not materialize. However, we still are hoping to receive you here some time soon.” (Telegram 4274 from Tokyo, June 16; ibid.)↩
  4. The Crown Prince and Princess visited Washington September 27–28.↩