711.94/1973
The Assistant Commercial Attaché in Japan (Smith), on Leave, to the Secretary of State
[Received February 27.]
Sir: I have the honor to invite the Department’s attention to the arrival into the United States of a Mr. Tadao Wikawa, who is undoubtedly on a definite mission on behalf of his Government, and to certain information obtained from him during a voyage from Yokohama to Seattle.
A few hours prior to my departure from Tokyo on home leave, I learned of Mr. Wikawa’s impending visit to the United States and undoubtedly the Embassy telegraphed the Department fully regarding his plans, as the visit of such an outstanding figure in Japanese politics could not fail to be of significance at this time. Briefly, Mr. Wikawa has served in both London and New York as the assistant to the Japanese Finance Commissioners at those posts; he has also held the position of Vice Minister of Finance in several Cabinets; he is the author of Japan’s Foreign Exchange Control Law; and at present he holds the post of President of the Central Bank of Co-operative Societies (the second largest depository in Japan). Of further interest, Mr. Wikawa is apparently a sincere and ardent Christian. He is believed to be married to an American woman, and he has a daughter who is attending Columbia University. It is understood that he gave as his reason for coming to the United States, his desire to visit his daughter.
Mr. Wikawa inferred that he was the unofficial representative of a group of influential persons in Japan who desire to see an improvement [Page 52] in Japanese-American relations. From subsequent remarks he made, it appears that he is, in some way, preparing for the visit of another individual, one Colonel Iwakuro,14 whom he described as being one of “the driving forces of the Army”. He said definitely that the Colonel was the one individual in Japan who could exercise control over all elements in the Japanese Army and he more or less hinted that no definite action would be taken by the Army towards the execution of its Southward Expansion Policy in Southeastern Asia until the Colonel had an opportunity to visit Washington. Colonel Iwakuro is scheduled to leave Japan during the early part of March and Mr. Wikawa expects to meet him in San Francisco on March 20, and accompany him to Washington. It is understood that the Colonel was originally slated to be designated as Assistant Military Attaché at the Japanese Embassy, but that he is now merely on a six months detail in the United States in a non-diplomatic capacity. The Colonel speaks no English; only French and German aside from Japanese.
I was unable to learn any details concerning Colonel Iwakuro’s plans except that he will probably bring definite proposals from the Japanese army for a settlement of Japanese-American relations. As far as I could gather, both Wikawa and Iwakuro will work with Admiral Nomura and the mission of both men appears to have the sanction and blessing of the Japanese Government. Mr. Wikawa appeared extremely optimistic over the possibility of settling all differences with the United States as he has apparently been given encouragement by some one or some group in this country. He refused to name his American connections but said that “the present Administration has its Colonel House”.15 He did say, however, that if Colonel Iwakuro’s mission failed that there was no hope that any amicable settlement could be reached between the two countries.
I obtained the impression that Mr. Wikawa’s mission has been prompted by the Agrarian Party or farm group in Japan. He stressed the point that this group which is directed by Count Arima is one of the strongest forces in Japan and one which has not, heretofore, taken any definite action to improve Japan’s relations with third powers. He said that the Germans were aware of the importance of the farm group and that they were continually endeavoring to contact the leaders with a view to reaching an understanding with them. According to Mr. Wikawa, the British distributed certain propaganda to them from time to time, while he claimed that the Americans had ignored them entirely. He also said that steps had been taken by the farm group to inform the soldiers of the Japanese [Page 53] Army of the efforts being made to improve relations with the United States, and he expressed the view that the men of the Army would not be led in any action against American interests unless the word was passed that there was no further hope of effecting a settlement of the present differences.
It is probable that the Department is fully aware of Mr. Wikawa’s mission but I am submitting this information by airmail from Vancouver in the hope that it might be of some interest.
I am arriving in Washington on March 1, and shall report to the Department immediately.
Respectfully yours,