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

29. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Japan⁰

Washington, September 30, 1958, 8:33 p.m.

482. For MacArthur from Robertson. Re Deptel 474.¹ Desire explain our changes to Articles VI, IX and X of mutual security treaty draft as it was when you were in Washington and give background relative other instructions same telegram.

Joint Chiefs of Staff made following recommendations:

(1) Treaty should provide right for US to station its forces in Japan;

(2) Administrative Agreement should remain unchanged, burden being on Japanese to come forth with any changes other than those which State and Defense agree are necessary;

(3) Joint consultation should take place only during emergency not only with respect operational use of bases but also with regard to deployment US forces and equipment into Japan. Moreover, treaty should provide right for US use its forces in Japan event Communist aggression directed against another free Asian nation wherein Japan’s safety threatened;

(4) We should use leverage these negotiations to get exchange of notes in which Japan would refer to its practice in past of not exercising jurisdiction except in cases particular importance and affirming that it would be Japan’s policy continue do so in future.

September 25 Becker and I met with Sprague, Irwin and other Defense representatives.² Discussed points raised by JCS. (1) Agreed that our draft gave only implied right US forces be in Japan. To strengthen our negotiating position other countries in Far East and to improve budget position vis-à-vis Congress, agreed to use modified NATO formula giving treaty minimum 10 year duration. (2) Agreed Administrative Agreement should remain unchanged except as technically required make it responsive mutual security treaty rather than present Security Treaty. (3) Agreed JCS proposal opened a possible means of solving jurisdictional problem we have in Philippines but should check with you on timeliness and desirability involving this in treaty negotiations (will send you separate telegram which presently being cleared with Defense).³ (4) Sprague felt need discuss JCS point #3 with Secretary Defense before could agree Department State position. Secretary Defense later concurred in Department State language on consultation formula but felt should try obtain Japanese assurances US be able use bases in case free Asian country attacked by Communists if Japan security threatened.

On question base rights DOD wished get as much as possible from Japanese in regard to US right to station forces Japan. Accordingly we agreed approach similar your 688⁴ on this question.

Foregoing only background explanation and not intended alter negotiating instructions.

Dulles

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 794.5/9–3058. Secret; Limited Distribution; No Distribution Outside Department. Drafted by Martin,
1. Document 28.
2. No other record of this meeting has been found.
3. See Document 30.
4. In telegram 688 from Tokyo, September 28, MacArthur suggested a new formulation for Article VI of the draft treaty to avoid the commitment of stationing U.S. forces in Japan for common defense under any and all circumstances. (Department of State, Central Files, 794.5/9–2858) See Supplement.