794.00/12–2853: Telegram
No. 726
The Secretary of
State to the Embassy in
Japan1
1535. For Allison from Secretary. Your 1586.2 I recall Yoshida’s statement at San Francisco Peace Conference when he hoped administration would be restored to Japan, “in the not distant future with the reestablishment of world security—especially security of Asia.” If that reestablishment of security now seems much more distant than Yoshida apparently then hoped, that is in no small part due to the fact that Japan itself has not made the contribution to restoring security which we had hoped. I am frankly disappointed that Japanese fallen far behind Germany in recovery and willingness to contribute to security. I refer not only to lag in rearmament, which contrasts sharply with German readiness to rearm, but also to failure to exclude Communist influence in labor unions, intelligentsia and youth circles, and widespread Communist propaganda in Japan directly against the U.S. which makes a very sharp contrast with the close and friendly relations between West German people and the U.S. Also, the Japanese squandering of windfall from Korean war rather than practice of austerity makes very bad impression. Japanese are constantly asking more and more from U.S. without feeling any obligation themselves to do what is necessary to promote security in Asia.
[Page 1573]I talked frankly along these lines to [Izeki?] personally when he came to see me3 and I think it is time that the Japanese leaders realized they cannot expect forever to be on the receiving end without any corresponding effort on their part.
I still have confidence that the Japanese people possess qualities necessary to enable them to play a major role, but so far they certainly have succeeded in keeping these qualities under wraps.
This is not a text for transmittal but to give you my thinking, which you can discreetly let known to extent, if any, you think appropriate. This has no Departmental clearance.
Happy New Year.