Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume IX, International Development and Economic Defense Policy; Commodities

253. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Japan¹

Washington, February 18, 1965, 3:50 p.m.

2078. Ref. Embtel 2515,² Deptel 1911.³ Wool Textiles. Dept and other agencies following wool textile problem gratified that GOJ apparently willing, subject to consultations with its industry, to participate in joint US-Japanese meeting with govt and industry reps; but at the same time agencies are concerned over restrictive condition attached by GOJ to scope of such bilateral discussions.

Condition proposed by GOJ eliminating possibility of discussing multilateral and/or international arrangement on wool textiles at meeting would create major difficulty for USG and undoubtedly prevent USG from participating in proposed meeting.

USG opposed to condition proposed by GOJ for following reasons:

1. Meetings with UK and Italian Govts in July 1964 discussed not only problem faced by US wool textile industry but also question of multilateral conference for consideration of various solutions, including but not limited to, international wool textile arrangement.⁴ Thus GOJ condition would mean more restrictive bilateral conversations than was the case with July 1964 conversations in London and Rome. Only difference is that industry reps not present in meetings with UKG and Italian Govt.

2. Meeting limited to discussing problem without discussing possible solutions would not meet USG need. Discussion of multilateral conference and/or international arrangement does not in any way commit Japanese Govt to any course of action.

3. GOJ may also wish to consider precedential aspect of GOJ placing restrictive condition on scope of bilateral exploration of problems between US and Japan.

4. US proposal for meeting (Deptel 1911) indicated that industry reps would be present at some session. Although USG would prefer to avoid limiting participation in meetings, USG would be prepared to discuss multilateral conference and/or international arrangement solution at meeting limited to Govt reps on both sides, if GOJ feels unable to discuss these issues in presence of industry advisors.

Embassy requested to use foregoing points in continuing to press GOJ for favorable response to USG proposal.

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, INCO–WOOL 17 US–JAPAN. Confidential. Drafted by Stanley Nehmer on February 17; cleared by Thelma E. Vettel (FE), James S. Love (Commerce), Edgar I. Eaton (Labor), Harald B. Malmgren (STR), George R. Jacobs (OR), Thomson and Bator (White House); and approved by G. Griffith Johnson.
2. Dated February 11. (Ibid.)
3. Dated February 2. (Ibid.)
4. See Document 233.