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

794C.0221/4–2054

No. 758
The Deputy Secretary of Defense (Kyes) to the Secretary of State¹

top secret

Washington, April 20, 1954.

Dear Mr. Secretary: While you were in Berlin, the National Security Council discussed the proposed Revised Directive for the U.S. Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands. Since there were certain aspects of the proposed directive still unresolved between our departments, and in recognition of your previously expressed personal interest in this matter, the President decided to defer further consideration until your return. More specifically, NSC Action No. 1047, resulting from its meeting of 17 February 1954 on the subject, reads as follows:

• “a. Discussed the draft directive on the subject prepared by the Departments of State and Defense and transmitted by the reference memorandum of February 16, 1954.”
• “b. Noted that the President would make a final decision regarding the draft directive after further discussion with the Secretary of State and Defense.”

Since this question remains unresolved, it has been impossible for this Department to issue what is felt to be much needed revision of the current directive. It is my view that the proposed directive agreed upon by representatives of the Departments of State and Defense at a meeting on 15 February 1954 should be issued. In order that the civil administration in the Ryukyu Islands may be facilitated, it is hoped that the Departments of State and Defense may be able to arrange for a discussion with the President in the near future so that a final decision may be made.²

Sincerely yours,

Roger M. Kyes

1. Filed with a covering note dated Apr. 19 from Kyes to Smith. The note reads: “This has been held up pending the return of the Secretary. We all know that he has been under heavy pressure, but please put this on top of the pile so that he will see it when he first returns.”

   Dulles was out of the country Apr. 11–15, and upon his return visited several cities in the United States. On Apr. 20 he left Washington for Paris and Geneva.

2. Attached to Kyes’ letter is the following note, dated Apr. 20 and initialed by Walter K. Scott of the Secretariat:

   “The Under Secretary discussed this with the Secretary and with the Deputy Secretary of Defense Kyes by phone.

   “The sense of the agreement reached with Mr. Kyes was to the effect that an active senior military officer from the Armed Forces would be appointed to head the U.S. Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands; the appointment to be made by the President after considering the recommendations of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense.”