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

033.9411/8–2853: Telegram

No. 680
The Ambassador in Japan (Allison) to the Department of State

confidential

Tokyo, August 28, 1953—6 p.m.

548. Following preliminary information on visit to US of Hayato Ikeda. Embassy comments will follow.

Ikeda plans enplane Tokyo for Washington, September 15, accompanied by Kiichi Aichi, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Finance, and Kiichi Miyazawa, member of House of Councillors and former private secretary and interpreter for Ikeda. [Gengo] Suzuki, Financial Commissioner, who will arrive Washington, September 6, accompanying Ogasawara, Minister of Finance, will join Ikeda party in Washington. Ikeda, under direct instruction from Prime Minister Yoshida, proposes discuss at high-levels five major problems:

(1) Increasing Japan’s defense forces and American assistance,

(2) Trade with Southeast Asia and reparation,

(3) Trade with Communist China,

(4) GARIOA settlements, and

(5) Foreign investment, principally loans. Ikeda hopes achieve definite understandings paving the way for Yoshida visit in October. Plans stay in Washington minimum ten days with longer term if Yoshida visit materializes.¹

Allison

1. In telegram 607 from Tokyo, Sept. 4, the Embassy stated in part: “Ikeda will visit Washington as personal emissary Prime Minister Yoshida and would expect to see Secretary Dulles, Secretary Humphrey and Budget Director Dodge.” (033.9411/9–453)

   In telegram 570 to Tokyo, Sept. 8, the Department asked the Embassy to inform the Prime Minister that it would be agreeable to receive Ikeda for talks commencing Sept. 21 and that Robertson would be the principal U.S. negotiator. “You may in discretion inform Japanese US will desire discuss Japanese measures improve payments position, promote exports, channel investment, preserve value currency, etc.” (033.9411/9–453)