Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, China and Japan, Volume XIV, Part 2

NA files, lot 54 D 198

No. 557
Memorandum by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense (Lovett) to the President

secret

Washington, April 22, 1952.

Subject:

• Future Relationships Between the Chiefs of the United States Diplomatic Mission in Japan and the Commander-in-Chief, Far East.

1. Attached as Tab A is a draft memorandum for your approval containing the principles to govern the relationships between the Chief of the United States Diplomatic Mission in Japan and the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, after the Treaty of Peace with Japan and the United States–Japan Security Treaty have come into force. In brief, these principles provide that the Chief of the Diplomatic Mission, as your representative and acting on your behalf, shall be responsible for all governmental relations in Japan between the United States and Japan, that the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, may deal directly with appropriate representatives of the Japanese Government on military matters, and that all necessary steps shall be taken to ensure concordance and the exchange of necessary information between them.

2. Except with respect to military assistance activities, the principles stated in the attached draft memorandum are in general comparable to those which govern the relationship between United States ambassadors and United States military commanders elsewhere in the world.

3. The nature of the procedures provided for dealing with matters connected with military assistance to Japan was determined by the following factors:

(a) Our relations with Japan bear a special importance for all of our policy objectives in the Far East; consequently, the closest coordination of the political, economic, and military aspects of these relations is required.

(b) In the immediate future Japan’s security will depend to a large extent on United States military forces.

(c) Since it has been considered undesirable to make public before the effective date of the Treaty of Peace the nature and extent of our plans for military assistance to Japan, there is no provision for such assistance in the Mutual Security Act of 1951 or in the program for fiscal year 1953. Funds for this purpose have been included in the Department of Defense budget.

(d) In accordance with the Interim Directive which you approved on February 20, 1952, the Commander-in-Chief, Far East is responsible for the participation of the United States in the joint committee provided by Article XXVI of the Administrative Agreement between the United States and Japan.

4. The Departments of State and Defense have consulted together extensively and have carefully worked out the principles in the attached memorandum. Both Departments are in full accord in this matter.

5. It is important that the relationships between the Chief of Diplomatic Mission in Japan and the Commander-in-Chief, Far East be established by the time the Treaty of Peace with Japan and the Security Treaty with Japan and the United States have come into force.

6. It is recommended that you approve the attached memorandum.

• Dean Acheson
• Robert A. Lovett

[Attachment]

Memorandum by the President¹

Subject:

• Principles Governing the Relationships Between the Chief of the United States Diplomatic Mission in Japan and the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, in the Post-Treaty Period

1. On the recommendation of the Secretaries of State and Defense, I have approved the following principles to govern the relationships between the Chief of the Diplomatic Mission in Japan and the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, after the Treaty of Peace with Japan and the Security Treaty between the United States and Japan have come into force.

a. The Chief of the Diplomatic Mission to Japan, as the representative of the President and acting on his behalf, shall be responsible under the immediate supervision of the Secretary of State for all governmental relations in Japan between the United States and Japan, and shall exercise the appropriate functions of a chief of Diplomatic Mission.

b. The Commander-in-Chief, Far East, shall take precedence among United States representatives in Japan immediately after the Chief of the United States Diplomatic Mission, but shall not be subordinate to him in the performance of his military duties.

c. Except as indicated herein, the Commander-in-Chief shall be governed by only such orders and instructions as are officially transmitted to him by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, by their authorized agent, or by superior authority in the direct chain of military command within the United States Government.

d. The Commander-in-Chief, Far East, is authorized to administer and to deal directly with appropriate representatives of the Japanese Government with respect to:

(1) All military matters in implementation of agreements reached between the United States and Japan, including matters affecting the security of the Commander-in-Chief’s Forces, the defense of Japan, and, to the extent provided by such agreements between the United States and Japan, the command and deployment of Japanese forces and combined strategic planning.

(2) The participation of the United States in the Joint Committee provided by Article XXVI of the Administrative Agreement between the United States and Japan, including the designation of the United States representative and staff of the Committee and the conduct of negotiations. The Commander-in-Chief, Far East, will keep the United States Government informed of discussions in the Joint Committee by periodic reports to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Commander-in-Chief, Far East, will keep the United States Ambassador informed at all times of the status of negotiations in the Joint Committee. The United States Ambassador will furnish political advice to the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, on matters before the Joint Committee and will designate a political officer to work with the United States section of the Joint Committee. Directives will be issued to the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, by the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters arising in the Joint Committee requiring such directives.

e. With respect to United States military assistance to Japan, the Commander-in-Chief is authorized to administer and to deal directly with appropriate representatives of the Japanese Government on all military aspects of such assistance, including organization, training, and equipping of Japanese forces, to the extent provided by and within the terms of any intergovernmental arrangements between the United States and Japan.

f. The Chief of the United States Diplomatic Mission and the Commander-in-Chief shall take all necessary steps to ensure concordance and the exchange of necessary information between them on matters which lie within the sphere of responsibility of each that may affect the other. If a difference arises between them over policy affecting military matters, (including matters of military assistance) the question shall be referred by them to the Department of State, and through the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Department of Defense, respectively, for resolution, and action shall be withheld in the meantime. However, in the event of an emergency affecting the security of his Forces, or the imminent threat of such an emergency, the Commander-in-Chief may take whatever action he considers essential to safeguard the security of his Forces.

Harry S. Truman

April 23, 1952.

1. President Truman signed this memorandum on Apr. 23 and transmitted it to General Bradley on Apr. 24 under a brief covering memorandum. (NA files, lot 54 D 199)