November 1971–December 1972: Toward a New Equilibrium


105. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 537, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VI, October–December 31, 1971. Confidential. Sent for information. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. On November 12, Holdridge sent Reischauer’s letter to Kissinger along with a memorandum to the President, summarizing and commenting upon Reischauer’s remarks, and a courtesy letter that Kissinger signed and sent to Reischauer. (Ibid.)


106. Memorandum From Robert Hormats of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 537, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VI, October–31 December 1971. Confidential. Sent for information. Kissinger initialed the memorandum, indicating that he saw it.


107. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 537, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VI, October–31 December 1971. Secret. Sent for information. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. On December 4, Froebe sent a draft of this memorandum to Kissinger for him to sign and forward to the President. (Ibid.)


108. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, VIP Visits, Box 925, Japan, Sato (San Clemente) Jan 72, [2 of 2]. Secret; Sensitive. Holdridge sent the memorandum under a December 29 covering memorandum; Kissinger subsequently approved the memorandum. (Ibid.)


109. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Johnson to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, VIP Visits, Box 925, Japan, Sato (San Clemente), Jan 72, [2 of 2]. Secret. This memorandum was included in the President’s briefing books for his meeting with Sato at San Clemente, January 6–7, 1972. (Ibid.) A January 6 memorandum from Kissinger, outlined the agenda items that Nixon and Sato were to discuss at the summit. (Ibid.) Kissinger, on the advice of Froebe, rejected a request in a December 29 memorandum from Russell Train, Chairman of the Executive Office of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality, to raise with Sato the issue of excessive hunting of whales. Kissinger suggested in a January 17 memorandum to Train that given the crowded agenda, the problem should be raised “at other levels.” (Both ibid.)


110. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 537, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VI, October–31 December 1971. Limited Official Use. Sent for information. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. An additional handwritten notation indicates that Kissinger saw it. In a December 18, 1971, memorandum, Holdridge had recommended that Kissinger sign this memorandum to the President, which summarized the views of Strickland on U.S.-Japanese relations. (Ibid.)


111. Memorandum for the President’s File

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Box 87, Memoranda for the President, Beginning January 1, 1972. Secret; Exdis. Prepared by Wickel. The meeting took place at the Western White House. Holdridge sent Kissinger this memorandum under a January 21 covering memorandum; Kissinger approved it with no further distribution. (Ibid., NSC Files, VIP Visits, Japan, Sato (San Clemente), Jan 72 [2 of 2]) On January 3, U. Alexis Johnson and Ushiba discussed some of the issues to be raised at the January 6 meeting. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 JAPAN)


112. Memorandum for the President’s File

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Box 87, Memoranda for the President, Beginning January 1, 1972. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Wickel. The meeting took place at the Western White House. Holdridge sent Kissinger this memorandum under a January 21 covering memorandum. Kissinger approved it with no further distribution.


113. Memorandum for the President’s File

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Box 87, Memoranda for the President, Beginning January 1, 1972. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Wickel. The meeting took place at the Western White House. Holdridge sent this memorandum to Kissinger under a January 21 memorandum. Kissinger approved the memorandum of conversation without further distribution except for Eyes Only distribution to Rogers.


114. Telegram From the Embassy in South Korea to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 543, Country Files, Far East, Korea, Vol. V, 1 Jan–31 Dec 1972 [Part 1] Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Telegram 37964 to Tokyo, March 6, describes a meeting between Ushiba and Rogers on the afternoon of March 2, in which Ushiba expressed gratitude for Green’s meetings with Japanese leaders to brief them about Nixon’s trip to China, noting that these meetings had occurred “even before President had spoken to American people.” (Ibid., Box 537, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VII, Jan–Apr 1972)


115. Letter From the Ambassador to Japan (Meyer) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 537, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VII, Jan–Apr 1972. Confidential. Kissinger read and initialed the letter and instructed Holdridge to “Make summary for President.” Kissinger also wrote: “Meyer goes out like a pro.” A handwritten notation on an attached note reads: “Draft a nice note from the President to Armin.”


116. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 537, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VII, Jan–Apr 1972. Secret; Sensitive. Holdridge sent this memorandum to Kissinger under an April 4 covering memorandum. (Ibid.) Kissinger approved the memorandum of conversation with no further distribution. In an April 10 letter to Sato, Nixon introduced Ingersoll as follows: “I wanted my personal representative in Japan to be someone who reflected the paramount importance which I place on continued friendly relations between our countries. It was therefore a great pleasure to me when Mr. Ingersoll, whom I have known for over 25 years, agreed to lay aside his heavy responsibilities as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Borg-Warner Corporation to take up this most important diplomatic post.” Nixon also wrote: “Please feel free, Mr. Prime Minister, to rely on Ambassador Ingersoll to bring to my personal attention any particular problem you may have at any time.” (Ibid., Box 757, Presidential Correspondence File 1969–1974, Japan (Sato Corr) 1969–8 Jul 1972) Ingersoll was nominated Ambassador to Japan on February 29 and presented his credentials on April 12.


117. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt and William Hyland of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 21, HAK Trip Files, HAK’s Japan Visit Jun 1972 [2 of 3]. Confidential. Sent under an April 7 covering information memorandum from Sonnenfeldt and Hyland to Kissinger, in which they stated that the attached memorandum “is largely a reminder of how things [especially Kissinger’s upcoming trip to Japan] may appear in Moscow.” Kissinger initialed his receipt on the covering memorandum.


119. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 21, HAK Trip Files, HAK’s Japan Visit Jun 1972, [2 of 3]. Secret.


120. Letter From the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 21, HAK Trip Files, HAK’s Japan Visit Jun 1972 [2 of 3]. Secret.


121. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1026, Presidential/HAK Memcons, Memcon—Henry Kissinger, Kakuei Tanaka—Minister of International Trade and Industry—Japan, Jun. 12, 1972. Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Presumably drafted by Holdridge. The meeting took place in the Okura Hotel.


122. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 21, HAK Trip Files, HAK’s Japan Visit Jun 1972 [3 of 3]. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for information. A notation on the memorandum indicates Nixon saw it. Memoranda of conversation for most of Kissinger’s June 1972 meetings in Japan are ibid., Box 22, HAK Trip Files, Japan Trip Memcons, June 1972, The President. Following Kissinger’s trip, Ingersoll reported to Kissinger that there had been annoyance expressed by some Japanese bureaucrats due to the nominally unofficial nature of his visit, which had been hosted by the Japan-U.S. Economic Council, and the problem of keeping track of Kissinger’s statements. (Memorandum from Ingersoll to Kissinger, June 23; ibid., Box 538, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VIII, May–December 1972)


123. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 538, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VIII, May–Dec 1972. Secret. Sent for information. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. According to the transmittal sheet, Nixon saw it on July 18. Holdridge sent the memorandum to Kissinger under a covering memorandum on July 8 suggesting, with the concurrence of Hormats, that Kissinger sign it and send it to the President. Nicholas Platt, had sent Kissinger a memorandum on July 7 that provided an assessment of Tanaka, the new cabinet, and recent political events in Japan. (Ibid.)


124. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 538, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VIII, May–Dec 1972. Secret. Presumably drafted by Holdridge or Hormats. The meeting took place in Kissinger’s office at the White House. On August 9, Hormats prepared Kissinger’s talking points for this meeting. (Ibid.)


125. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 926, VIP Visits, Tanaka Visit (Hawaii) 31 Aug–1 September [1972] [1 of 4]. Secret.


126. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 22, HAK Trip Files, HAK’s Secret Paris Trip, August 1972. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. On August 29, Kissinger wrote a second memorandum to Nixon describing his August 19 conversation with Tanaka. See Document 128.


127. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 926, VIP Visits, Tanaka Visit (Hawaii) 31 Aug–September [1972] [1 of 4]. Secret. Another memorandum from Laird to the President, August 21, stated: “Your meeting with Prime Minister Tanaka may present an opportunity to convey to him our position concerning a number of defense issues which affect the US-Japan security relationship. These include the need for close cooperation under the terms of the security treaty, US military operations from bases in Japan, and our security relationships with the Republic of China and the Republic of Korea. Although these issues have been the subject of past discussions, I believe that a reiteration of our intent to uphold our security commitments in the Far East, and the attendant continuing need for bases in Japan, would be appropriate.” (Ibid.) In addition to this memorandum, Laird sent talking points for Nixon to use in his meeting with Tanaka. (Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 330–77–0094, Box 62, Japan, 300–399)


128. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 926, VIP Visits, Tanaka Visit (Hawaii) 31 Aug–September [1972] [3 of 4]. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it.


129. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 926, VIP Visits, Tanaka Visit (Hawaii) 31 Aug–1 September [1972] [1 of 4]. Top Secret; Sensitive. A notation on the memorandum indicates Nixon saw it. He extensively underlined Section I and Section II A of this document. On August 10, Holdridge had sent Kissinger a memorandum concerning his upcoming meetings with Tanaka and Ohira. Holdridge suggested that Kissinger would want “to work out with them in as concrete terms as possible a) language for the post-meeting joint statement which will give it some lift and establish the maintenance of close U.S.-Japanese ties as Japan’s highest priority (this against the backdrop of Tanaka’s moves to normalize Japan-PRC relations); and b) agreement on what Tanaka will be able to say or announce at Honolulu, or that we would jointly announce elsewhere in conjunction with Honolulu, on Japanese measures to help reduce the great imbalance in U.S. trade with Japan.” Holdridge also remarked that Kissinger should “if possible steer him [Tanaka] away from courses which could weaken the U.S.-Japan Mutual Security Treaty via Japanese moves to limit its effectiveness with respect to the defense of Taiwan. We would also like to see Japan maintain at least cultural and economic relations with Taiwan.” In response to Japanese concerns, Holdridge indicated, “you will want to touch on some of the irritations in the U.S.-Japan relationship where some action by us might make Tanaka’s position easier in the eyes of the Japanese people. This would involve elements in the Security Treaty relationship where we might be more forthcoming (e.g. adequate prior notification of weather diversion of B–52s to Okinawa), and amelioration of some of our economic and commercial policies with respect to Japan.” (Ibid., [3 of 4])


130. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 926, VIP Visits, Tanaka Visit (Hawaii) 31 Aug–1 September [1972] [1 of 4]. Secret; Sensitive. Presumably drafted by Holdridge. The conversation was held aboard the Spirit of ʽ76 en route from California to Hawaii.


131. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 926, VIP Visits, Tanaka Visit (Hawaii) 31 Aug–1 September [1972] [1 of 4]. Secret; Sensitive. Presumably drafted by Wickel. The meeting took place in the Presidential Suite at the Kuilima Hotel. A memorandum of conversation from a meeting that was held concurrently between Ohira and Rogers is ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 JAPAN. In a July 31 memorandum to Kissinger, Holdridge wrote that Tanaka wanted Ohira, with him during all discussions of international political issues. U. Alexis Johnson informed the Japanese Embassy that Nixon would like to meet privately with Tanaka so that the two leaders could get to know one another better. (Memorandum from Holdridge to Kissinger, July 31; ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 926, VIP Visits, Tanaka Visit, Honolulu, 4 of 4) The next day, Holdridge wrote to Kissinger, “On Ohira’s attending sessions with the President along with Tanaka, Tanaka and Ohira both feel quite strongly about being together, although they are appreciative of the President’s sensitivity. The Japanese point out that Ohira as the leader of a strong LDP faction is almost Tanaka’s equal in political power, and Tanaka and Ohira hope that a compromise can be reached for Ohira to be present in the sensitive discussions, with perhaps a private meeting between the President and Tanaka taking place prior to the President’s informal dinner on August 31. (Memorandum from Holdridge to Kissinger, August 1; ibid.)


132. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL JAPAN-US. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Ericson, concurred in by Green, and approved in S and J on September 25. The memorandum is labeled Part III of V. The meeting took place in the Kuilima Hotel. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Nixon, Tanaka, Kissinger, and a few other participants had concluded their meeting at the Kuilima’s Presidential Suite at 3:15 p.m. (see Document 131) and then proceeded to the Alii Suite, where they met with the members of the U.S. and Japanese official delegations from 3:15–3:58 p.m. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files)


133. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 926, VIP Visits, Tanaka Visit (Hawaii) 31 Aug–1 September [1972] [1 of 4] Secret; Sensitive. Presumably drafted by Wickel. The meeting took place at Presidential Suite of the Kuilima Hotel.


134. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 926, VIP Visits, Tanaka Visit (Hawaii) 31 Aug–1 September [1972] [1 of 4]. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place at the Presidential Suite of the Kuilima Hotel. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Rogers and Ohira joined Nixon and Tanaka at 10:20 a.m., remaining with them until 11:20 a.m., at which time the meeting ended. (Ibid., White House Central Files)