Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI, Part 1

Lot 54D423

Copy of Draft Letter Handed the Prime Minister of Japan (Yoshida) by the Consultant to the Secretary (Dulles)¹

[Tokyo,] December 18, 1951.

Dear Mr.___________: While the Japanese Peace Treaty and the

U.S.–Japan Security Treaty were being debated in the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors of the Diet, a number of questions were put and statements made relative to Japan’s future policy toward China. Some of the statements, separated from their context and background, gave rise to misapprehensions which I should like to clear up.

The Japanese Government desires ultimately to have a full measure of political peace and commercial intercourse with China which is Japan’s close neighbor.

At the present time it is, we hope, possible to develop that kind of relationship with the National Government of the Republic of China, which has the seat, voice and vote of China in the United Nations, which exercises actual governmental authority over certain territory, and which maintains diplomatic relations with most of the members of the United Nations. To that end my Government on November 17, 1951, established a Japanese Government Overseas Agency in Formosa, accredited to the National Government of China. This is the highest form of relationship with other countries which is now permitted to Japan, pending the coming into force of the multilateral Treaty of Peace. The Japanese Government Overseas Agency in Formosa is important in its personnel, reflecting the importance which my government attaches to relations with the National Government of the Republic of China. My government is prepared as soon as legally possible to conclude with the National Government of China, if that government so desires, a Treaty which will reestablish normal relations between our governments in conformity with the principles set out in the multilateral Treaty of Peace, the terms of such bilateral treaty to be applicable as regards the territories now or hereafter under the actual control of the Japanese and Chinese National Governments. We will at once explore this subject with the National Government of China.

As regards the Chinese Communist regime, that regime stands condemned by the United Nations of being an aggressor and in consequence, the United Nations has recommended certain measures against that regime, in which Japan is now concurring and expects to continue to concur when the multilateral Treaty of Peace comes into force pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 (a) (iii), whereby Japan has undertaken “to give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the Charter and to refrain from giving assistance to any State against which the United Nations may take preventive or enforcement action”. Furthermore, the Communist regime in China is backing the Japan Communist Party in its program of seeking violently to overthrow the constitutional system and the present Government of Japan. In view of these considerations, I can assure you that the Japanese Government has no intention to conclude a bilateral Treaty with the Communist regime of China.

[Attachment 1]²

Observations

1. Page 1, para. 3, line 9

The words “accredited to the National Government …” should read “with the consent of the National Government”. (The Japanese Government Overseas Agency is not a diplomatic Organ accredited to any Government)³

2. Page 2, line 5

The words “Normal relations between our Governments …” should read “Normal relations between the two Governments”.³

3. Page 2 lines 7 through 11

The whole sentence should be reduced as follows:

“The terms of such bilateral treaty, so far as it concerns the Chinese National Government, are to be applicable as regards the territories now or hereafter under the actual control of that Government. We will promptly explore this subject with the National Government of China.[”]⁴

4. Page 2, para. 2

The beginning of this paragraph should read as follows:

“As regards the Chinese Communist regime, that regime stands actually condemned …”³

5. Page 2, para. 2, line 12

The sentence should be reduced as follows:

[“]Furthermore, the Sino-Soviet Treaty of friendship, alliance and mutual assistance concluded in Moscow in 1950 is virtually a military alliance aimed against Japan. In fact there are many reasons to believe that the Communist regime in China is backing. …[”]⁵

[Attachment 2]

“The terms of such bilateral treaty shall, in respect of the Republic of China, be applicable to all territories which are now, or which may hereafter be, under the control of the National Government of the Republic of China.”⁶

1. Draft is initialed “JFD.” in a hand not Mr. Dulles’. Several marginalia and interpolations appear on this copy, on which is also written “used for revision” in an unidentified hand. The marginalia are not reproduced here since they convert the draft into the final text of the letter, printed under date of December 24, p. 1466.
2. This undated attachment is apparently a copy of a Japanese document.
3. “Ok” is written in the margin beside this paragraph in an unidentified hand.
3. “Ok” is written in the margin beside this paragraph in an unidentified hand.
4. “See our counter text” is written in the margin beside this paragraph in an unidentified hand. See footnote 6 below.
3. “Ok” is written in the margin beside this paragraph in an unidentified hand
5. “Ok” is written in the margin beside this paragraph in an unidentified hand.
6. “#3” is written in the margin of this attachment in an unidentified hand. This attachment is the “counter text” referred to in footnote 4 above.