186. Telegram From the Embassy in Japan to the Department of State0
4313. Re my Presidential Handling 4278 to Department, repeated Taipei 158.1 Vice Foreign Minister Yamada gave me this morning letter (mentioned in reference telegram) from Kishi to President dated June 17. As I informed Assistant Secretary Parsons by telephone this morning, after further reflection Kishi believed it best not to publish letters.
Following is text of Kishi’s letter:
Begin text.
Dear Mr. President:
It is with the deepest regret that I was obliged to have Foreign Minister Fujiyama convey to you through Ambassador MacArthur my request that you postpone your scheduled visit to Japan on the historical occasion of the Japan-United States Centennial.
As the Foreign Minister explained, the overwhelming majority of the Japanese people eagerly awaited your visit in this memorable year with high expectations. On my own part, I exerted every possible effort to make preparations which in every way would be fully consonant with the significance of your visit.
However, in view of the disorderly activities of a misguided and violent minority, I was compelled with painful regret to make the decision that the climate engendered by them, even though it does not reflect the sentiments of the people as a whole, was not one in which to receive the head of state of a nation with which we are on the most friendly terms in keeping with the spirit of the occasion. It is my strong belief that our urgent task today is to continue to fight with unrelenting [Page 371] resolve the forces of subversion and violence which seek to undermine our freedom and democratic ways of life.
I am most grateful to you for your sympathetic understanding of our situation. It is, I assure you, a source of great encouragement to me and to the people of my country.
His Majesty the Emperor desires me to convey to you his deep regrets for the postponement and his sincere hope for the pleasure of meeting with you in the near future. His Highness the Crown Prince looks forward to his projected visit to the United States with eager anticipation.
The exceptional circumstances in which we are now placed do not, I firmly believe, affect in the least the relations of mutual friendship and trust which bind our two countries. I am confident that the present situation in my country will soon be normalized and that Japan can welcome you to her shores with the traditional courtesy and hospitality of our people.
Respectfully yours, Nobusuke Kishi.
End text.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.11–EI/6–1860. Secret; Presidential Handling. Sent to Taipei and repeated to the Department of State.↩
- See footnote 1, Document 184.↩