124. Telegram From the Embassy in Japan to the Department of State0
1976. CINCPAC exclusive for Admiral Felt and POLAD for info. COMUS/Japan exclusive for General Burns for info. For the Secretary. Consultation. Deptel 1480 and Embtel 1865.1
I met privately with Fujiyama and conveyed to him constructive and very helpful position set forth in reftel re consultation. Fujiyama said he appreciated our efforts to be helpful and would put our proposal to Kishi at once. After seeing Kishi Fujiyama informed me as follows re Kishi’s reactions:
Kishi appreciates greatly our efforts to help him with consultation formula which he believes is “key” to successful Diet ratification. He understands why it is not feasible for us to use phrase “agreement” in consultation formula although this would help him greatly with public, press and Conservative party opinion. Also he will not press for an “agreed minute.” He feels that language along lines of that in reftel will meet his problem if it could be incorporated in joint communiqué which he and President will issue at conclusion of their meeting on January 19th. He observed that he will be expected to discuss with President [Page 251] “consultation” which is a matter of vital importance to Japanese and I gather he feels that his position will be infinitely stronger if proposals in reftel are included in communiqué. He does not believe it will be understood in Japan if nothing is said about it in communiqué. He asked specifically that the President and you be informed as to the great importance he attaches to having language along lines of reftel in communique and how much it will help him in his efforts firmly to consolidate Japanese opinion behind new treaty. I told Fujiyama I would transmit Kishi’s message to the President and you at once.
In view Kishi’s request suggest this message and reftels might be passed to White House. I concur that it would greatly strengthen Kishi to have language along lines of reftel in joint communiqué and I don’t think we lose anything of substance by such inclusion.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 794.5/12–2259. Confidential; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated to CINCPAC and COMUS/Japan.↩
- Documents 120 and 118.↩