20. Memorandum From Secretary of Commerce Stans to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1
In connection with the textile discussion with the Japanese, we do need some items of leverage to force them into a sensible negotiating position. It occurs to me that there may be some opportunity in the following two items:
1. Apparently the Japanese have an interest in acquiring a substantial amount of gold from the United States.
2. Apart from the question of the return of Okinawa, there is apparently a major issue of the amount which the Japanese shall pay to the U.S. in reimbursement for facilities.
I propose that either or both of these items are of sufficient significance that the textile matter could be worked into them. I leave it to you as to whether the suggestions are valid and whether they should be passed on to the President.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 213, Agency Files, Dept of Commerce—1970, Vol. I. Secret; Eyes Only. Kissinger initialed this memorandum and wrote, “Note of acknowledgment” in the upper-right hand corner. In an October 16 letter to Stans, Kissinger expressed “thanks for your memorandum of October 1 containing the most helpful suggestions on Japan.” (Ibid.)↩