794C.0221/10–2053: Telegram
No. 703
The Ambassador in Japan (Allison) to the Department of State
1001. Okazaki spoke to me this morning regarding timing of return of Amami-Oshima group. He said special Diet session would convene about October 29 or 30 and it would be necessary to present budget for coming year’s expenses in Amami-Oshima, as well as legislation governing those islands. While it would not be necessary to include definite date of going into effect on legislation, it would be necessary to explain to Diet probabilities in this connection and government hoped it would be able to say islands would be returned on or about December 1. I told him I could give [Page 1534] him no definite information in this connection, but hoped it would be possible to meet his desires.
I referred to necessity of reaching agreement on military facilities to be retained and I told him frankly that one of difficulties was close relationship which Amami group bears to security of Okinawa and necessity of devising some method of insuring that future developments would not menace that security. Okazaki appeared most understanding and said he was certain Japanese Government would go to great lengths to meet American desires. He asked whether or not it was possible for United States military to list type of rights or facilities it might need in future and said that if this could be done, he felt definite agreement could be reached; that Japanese Government would at any time be willing to negotiate with United States Government arrangement for such rights or facilities. I said I hoped this could be done and that we were earnestly looking into matter.
I believe Okazaki reflects true cooperative attitude of Japanese Government toward this question and that if we approach them on reasonable basis, we can obtain all legitimate needs. However, if we demand everything in writing in first instance, thereby indicating to Japanese our distrust of their good will, I seriously doubt that present cooperative attitude will be maintained.