Office of the Historian

794C.0221/8–753: Telegram

No. 672
The Ambassador in Japan (Allison) to the Embassy in Korea1

top secret
priority
Tokyo, August 7, 1953—1 p.m.

13. For the Secretary. Reference Tedul 12,2 repeated Tokyo 332 from Department and Dulte 15,3 repeated Tokyo 63 from Seoul.

1.
Concur Department’s recommendation phrase be omitted and suggest “of these islands” be substituted.
2.
Reference Secretary’s suggestion, I strongly recommend that formal statement not contain anything which would make it appear that return of islands contingent on increased Japanese defense effort. I am in favor of emphasizing privately to Yoshida importance increased security effort by Japan, but am certain any public statement to this effect by Secretary at this time would be counterproductive.4
Allison
  1. Also sent niact to the Department as 344, which is the source text.↩
  2. Dated Aug. 6, sent priority to Seoul, repeated priority to Tokyo; drafted by Johnson and cleared by him in substance with the Department of Defense (Nash). It reads in part: “Defense and State concur on Embassy redraft of statement except that Defense strongly feels last sentence third paragraph should omit phrase ‘both locally and in their relationship to Japan’ as being more susceptible of giving rise to Irredentist sentiment than last sentence contained Department draft. Department inclined agree.” (794C.0221/8–653)↩
  3. In this telegram from Seoul, dated Aug. 6, the Secretary said: “If statement made, will emphasize importance Japan make increased security effort, as intimated by Yoshida at San Francisco conference.” (794C.0221/8–653)↩

  4. Dulles’ statement, issued in Tokyo on Aug. 8, reads as follows:

    “I am pleased to be able to make in Tokyo the following announcement which I have just communicated to His Excellency, the Prime Minister, on behalf of the U.S. Government.

    “The Government of the United States desires to relinquish its rights under article 3 of the peace treaty over the Amami Oshima group in favor of the resumption by Japan of authority over these islands as soon as necessary arrangements can be concluded with the Government of Japan.

    “With respect to the other islands included under article 3 of the Japanese peace treaty, it will be necessary during the present international tensions in the Far East for the United States to maintain the degree of control and authority now exercised. The United States will thus be able to carry out more effectively its responsibilities under the security treaty between the United States and Japan to contribute to the maintenance of peace and security in the area. Meanwhile, the United States will make increased efforts to promote the welfare of the inhabitants of these islands.” (Department of State Bulletin, Aug. 17, 1953, p. 208)

    Dulles reported on his trip at the Cabinet meeting held Aug. 27. Only one sentence of the minutes deals with the stopover in Japan: “The Secretary also outlined his conversation with the Japanese Premier in which he urged Yoshida to accomplish a greater Japanese military effort.” (Minutes drafted by Minnich, Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file) For additional information on the Secretary’s conversation with Yoshida, see Young’s memorandum of a conversation, Document 675, and telegram 421 from Tokyo, Document 677.

    Ambassador Allison discussed the Dulles visit in John M. Allison, Ambassador from the Prairie: Allison Wonderland (New York), pp. 241–242.

    ↩