Eisenhower Library, Dulles papers, “Telephone Conversations”
No. 829
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation,
Prepared in the Department of State1
Telephone Call From Gov. Dewey2
The Sec. returned D.’s call of yesterday.
D. said Yoshida had a number of things of great importance3 and solicited D.’s help. D. said he would be glad to do what he could but didn’t say what.
- 1.
- War criminals. Apparently we are responsible for quiet a batch of them. The Sec. said the Pres. has personally taken a stiff line on this—of course, it is from the Army’s point. D. mentioned 5,000 residents of [Bonin] Islands. The Sec. said Defense is rabid on that.
- 2.
- Immigrants to South America. It is an initial approach to the population problem and would help develop trade in SA.
- 3.
- Reparations. The Sec. said they want the difference of what they can pay and what they can’t pay. The Sec. said they should negotiate on the basis that we would not pay—then the price would not go skyhigh. The Sec. mentioned our willingness to help.
- 4.
- Fishing business.
- 5.
- Counterpeace offensive. D. said that Y. did not have the unanimous support of his group on that. The Sec. did not know that, and said his ideas are a bit fuzzy. The Sec. tried to get him to develop it. Singapore is far from China and the difference in the US and UK policies would make it difficult to find a common ground. The Sec. told him the idea appeals in general.
D. said the principal objectives should be to shore him up in his govt. The Sec. said some feel the political animosity is such, it might be better for him to retire. They don’t have anyone who is his equal. The Sec. said he has excluded all the Delegation from meetings except Iguchi. He is very rough in his treatment of people.
The rest of the conversation referred to the election, organizing the Senate, the Davies4 case, gout. Not anything of world-shaking importance—just general conversation.