Office of the Historian

259. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Japan1

Washington, March 17, 1965, 4:08 p.m.

2347. Wool Textiles. Wada’s present thinking unacceptable as means meeting problem. Nor was suggestion of 6–8 industry reps and two USG reps practical (Embtel 2828).2

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What is needed to meet proposal by President to Sato is joint govt-industry meeting. We would expect that govt rep would be chairman of US Del. Discussions when industry and govt reps together would permit participation of industry reps. Meetings limited to govt reps could discuss questions relating to international agreement which GOJ seems reluctant to have discussed with industry reps present.

Exact level of govt representation not considered here as yet although at least three agencies would be represented. Similar talks in London and Rome in July 1964 (without industry reps) had Warren Christopher (Special Rep of Secy State) as Chairman of US Del. Other members included Love (Special Assistant to Secy Commerce), Ruttenberg (then Special Assistant to Secy Labor), and Nehmer (Director, E:OR, State). As indicated in Deptel 1911,3 possibility of including Congressional reps was mentioned by President to Sato.

Pressures here are continuing and we need to know as soon as feasible whether GOJ can agree to terms proposed by USG (as in foregoing and Deptel 2078).4

Accordingly, Ambassador is requested to pursue question with ForMin and, if necessary, MITI Minister on basis of statement made by President to Ambassador during discussion with Sato on January 13, charging Ambassador with working through plans for meeting.5

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, INCO–WOOL 17 US–JAPAN. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Stanley Nehmer; cleared by Robert W. Barnett (FE), Francis Bator, James S. Love (Commerce), Herbert N. Blackman (Labor), Harald B. Malmgren (STR), Chadwick Johnson and Wendell W. Woodbury (EA/J); and approved by G. Griffith Johnson.↩
  2. In telegram 2828 from Tokyo, March 11, the Embassy reported that Wada had originally proposed that the United States send an “industry delegation” accompanied by government observers. Industry and government representatives would then meet separately with their counterparts. (Ibid.)↩
  3. See footnote 3, Document 253.↩
  4. Dated February 18. (Department of State, Central Files, INCO–WOOL 17 US– JAPAN)↩
  5. A memorandum of the President’s conversation with Prime Minister Sato, January 13, is scheduled for publication in volume XXIX.↩