740.00119 Control (Japan)/6–1649
The Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Kennan) to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, at Tokyo
Dear General MacArthur: I have received your letter of June 161 and appreciate your thoughtfulness in letting me have a copy of your letter to Secretary Acheson of that date.2
[Page 794]I have discussed this with the Secretary, and he is giving the most careful consideration to the views you put forth, the importance of which he fully appreciates. I am sure that you will hear from him in the near future. I am personally very glad that you were good enough to let him have your views directly on this matter. We are moving into a new and difficult phase of foreign policy not only in Asia but in Europe as well; and there is need for the utmost in contact and understanding between all of those who share the tremendous burdens of outstanding responsibility in the handling of our Government’s affairs abroad.
I need not say that I continue to look back on my visit to Tokyo with gratitude for the hospitality I was shown and with satisfaction over the help which the visit gave to all of us here in understanding your problems. I do indeed hope that I may be able to visit the Far East again before too many months have passed; but I doubt that it could be before next winter.
With warmest regards,
Sincerely yours,