Editorial Note
For the memorandum of the discussion at the 221st meeting of the National Security Council, held in Washington on November 2, 1954, see volume XIV. For convenience, a portion is repeated here:
“[Cutler] went on to point out that he was disturbed by the several conflicts in our existing policy papers on the Far East, and asked Secretary Dulles if it would not be desirable for the Planning Board to undertake a new paper which would sketch the broad principles and policy of the United States vis-à-vis the Far East. Secretary Dulles replied that he thought this would be a very desirable job for the Planning Board, although it would be a very tough one, and the Planning Board would have his sympathy. It was hard to find any element of fixity in such a fluid situation as confronted us in the Far East. Nevertheless, it was one of the great advantages of a democratic government that our policies could have flexibility, whereas the totalitarian government of the Soviet Union required fixity of position.
“Noting that the Japanese Prime Minister would be coming to Washington next week, Secretary Dulles said that the new Planning Board paper should take account of Japan, that great prize in the Far East, and that the paper should also take account of the impact on Europe of policies of the United States in the Far East. Governor Stassen recommended that the new paper also include the problem of U.S. trade policies toward Communist China. Secretary Dulles said we need not worry about that, for trade policies with Communist China would certainly be raised by Prime Minister Yoshida when he reached Washington. The Japanese were currently expecting more from a revival of trade with Communist China than they would actually ever get.” (Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file)
For documentation on the visit of Prime Minister Yoshida, who arrived in Washington on November 7, see volume XIV.
NSC Action No. 1259–d, taken at the November 2 meeting, reads: “Directed the NSC Planning Board to prepare, for early Council consideration, a broad restatement of U.S. policy toward the Far East, including controls on trade with Communist China, in the light of the above discussion, recent decisions, and the existing situation.” (S/S–NSC (Miscellaneous) files, lot 66 D 95)