103. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Japan1
196864. For the Ambassador from the Secretary. Following is the text of a message from the President to be delivered to Prime Minister Sato.
1. Dear Mr. Prime Minister: I know that you share my disappointment over the United Nations General Assembly vote to expel the Republic of China from the UN. I have kept in the closest touch with all developments pertaining to the Chinese representation issue at the [Page 354] United Nations and at world capitals and I am therefore deeply mindful of the full cooperation and the tireless endeavors of the Japanese representatives in support of our common position. Your own courageous decision to cosponsor the United States resolution is one that is deeply appreciated and respected by the American people and by your many other friends in all parts of the world.
2. As we look to the future, we can be encouraged by the progress which has recently taken place in the relationship between Japan and the United States. Your leadership in resolving the textile question is something for which I am particularly grateful. Mr. Kishi’s discussions with me last week helped me better understand your views of current Asian situation, and I hope that these talks were similarly useful to you. I am confident too that, as I discussed with Mr. Kishi, our consultations on China policy will improve our mutual understanding on this most important question. All of these steps should contribute significantly to strengthening the alliance between our two countries.
3. As always, you have my highest personal regards and warmest good wishes.2
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 537, Country Files, Far East, Japan, Vol. VI, October–December 31, 1971. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Herbert Levin, Politico-Military Officer for Japan; cleared in substance with Herz and Ericson, and by Special Assistant to the Secretary of State Peter Johnson, Miller, and Haig; and approved by Green. After receiving an earlier draft of this message, Holdridge sent a memorandum to Haig on October 27, noting: “The idea of the message originated with Secretary Rogers (although Under Secretary Johnson approved the State draft). The second paragraph of State’s draft is objectionable, I believe, because it pictures the PRC as a problem in the U.N. and could easily be interpreted by Peking, if leaked, as implying collusion between the U.S. and Japan as regards our approach to China. I have substituted language which would have the President take note of recent progress in removing frictions from our relationship and reaffirms the primary importance of the U.S.-Japan relationship in our Asian policy.” Haig approved Holdridge’s changes, which were included in the final version of the telegram sent to Tokyo. (Ibid.)↩
- The message does not include a signature.↩