Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Japan; Korea, Volume XVIII

116. Telegram From the Embassy in Japan to the Department of State⁰

Tokyo, December 13, 1959, 1 p.m.

1863. CINCPAC exclusive for POLAD and Admiral Felt for information. COMUS/Japan exclusive for General Burns for information. Embassy telegram 1857; repeated for information CINCPAC 267 and COMUS/Japan 184.¹ All papers today, both Japanese and English language, prominently feature Acheson–Yoshida problem and FonMin Fujiyama’s testimony at upper house of Diet yesterday replying to questioning on published reports from Washington that there would be no need for US-Japan consultation if US troops based in Japan were used for operations in Korea. Socialists and pro-Communist elements have eagerly taken up issue, and will obviously do their utmost to exploit it. Socialist Party has called extraordinary meeting for today (Sunday), charging government with secret diplomacy and granting US right to use its troops in Japan freely anywhere in Far East under name UN forces. More serious, of course, is effect of issue on LDP and its factional rivalries which below surface are ever ready to erupt.

Fujiyama tried yesterday to quiet storm at upper house but his efforts were neither particularly effective nor persuasive owing to: 1) his limited skill in Diet debate; 2) nature of unresolved confidential discussions with US; and 3) fact that no Govt can admit publicly that without even consultation, let alone agreement, it will permit use of its territory for combat operations in which a third state but not itself may be involved. Questions to which he was subjected have already opened up: 1) “definition of Far East”, 2) “consultation and agreement”, and 3) command relationships involved in difference between “US forces in Japan” and “US forces acting as UN forces”. With Diet session extended to December 27 such interpellations will extend over next two weeks.

Meanwhile, new and unbelievably inept news stories from Washington² have served to stoke these fires with reports that “US officials still do not discount completely last minute obstacles” or “late-developing problem which could call for further negotiation on a high diplomatic level.” Particularly unhelpful AP story continued that “one official in close touch with the matter” said that “if traditional pattern is followed, signing will be accomplished by exchange of notes between the two powers. This might include a special protocol providing that there would be no need for consultation in case flare-up in Korea should require the use of US troops there.”

[1 paragraph (7 lines of source text) not declassified]

MacArthur

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 794.5/12–1359. Confidential; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated to CINCPAC and COMUS/Japan.
1. Telegram 1857 from Tokyo, December 12, described the effect of an AP story datelined Washington, December 10, on the Acheson–Yoshida notes problem. (Ibid., 794.5/12–1259)
2. The Department replied, in telegram 1439 to Tokyo, December 14, that the source of press reports was not the Department, but might have been the Japanese Embassy in Washington. (Ibid., 794.5/12–1459)