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

110.15 RO/7–1353: Telegram

No. 662
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Japan

confidential
priority

Washington, July 13, 1953—5 p.m.

117. Reurtel 114.¹ Department spokesman made following statement press noon July 13 (verbatim text; unnecessary words deleted).

“Secretary has authorized me make following statement for him:

“I have been informed my remarks before Senate Appropriations Committee July 9 concerning Japan misinterpreted.

“Security Treaty United States and Japan expressed expectation Japanese will assume increasing share of burden for own defense.

“Japanese National Safety Force has authorized strength 110,000. We have provided Japanese assistance developing that force and are proposing to Congress to continue assistance through Mutual Security Program. Our tentative thinking has been Japanese needs for internal security and self-defense would be met by ultimate security force about 350,000 or equivalent our terminology about 10 divisions.

“All decisions with respect National Safety Force especially any increase in it will be made by Japanese Government and people through their governmental process. Once their decisions made—whatever they may be—we prepared in interests of collective security free world help equip these forces”.

Press asked re plans Japanese Navy and Air Force. No comment made. Re query whether other concerned Governments aware such plans background reply made that they were.

Re INS story to best knowledge Department no such statement made.²

Dulles

1. Dated Aug. 13, not printed; see footnote 2 below.
2. In telegram 114 the Embassy stated that the International News Service had released a story concerning an explanatory Departmental statement (previous to that printed above) with regard to the Secretary’s testimony. (794.5 MSP/7–1253)