Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973–1976

218. Letter From Japanese Prime Minister Miki to President Ford, Tokyo, February 24, 1976.¹ ²

February 24, 1976

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
TOKYO

February 2, 1976

Dear Mr. President,

As you may recall, we agreed last summer to cooperate with each other for the protection of democracy and for the furtherance of amicable relations between the United States and Japan, affirming the permanent friendship between the two countries. We also promised to exchange our frank views with full confidence in each other.

As both the United States and Japan are now confronted with the unpleasant problem concerning Lockheed, it is with this confidence that I wish to convey to you my concern about this problem.

Yesterday, both Houses of the Japanese Diet adopted important resolutions on this matter, the copies of which are enclosed herewith for transmittal to your Government. That the Japanese Diet, the highest organ of state power under the Constitution, adopted such resolutions is a matter of great note and indicates the importance the Diet attaches to the clarification of the problem.

The Japanese political circle has been profoundly shaken by the reported allegation made at the public hearings of the Senate Sub-Committee on Multinational Corporations that Japanese government officials received payments from Lockheed. A grave concern is spread throughout Japan at present that, if the whole issue is kept unsolved with the names of the officials involved remaining in doubt, democracy in Japan may suffer a fatal blow. I share this concern. The disclosure of all the relevant materials including the names of the officials involved, if any, would serve better the interest of Japanese politics and of the everlasting friendship between the United States and Japan.

Mr. President, the utmost efforts are being made here to unveil the truth, and I hope that the United States will continue to cooperate with us for the further clarification of the problem. I am convinced that Japanese democracy is strong enough to stand the test. The truth must be sought with courage and we have the confidence to face up to its consequences.

I also share your view of the need to make new international rules on the behavior of multinational enterprises. I look forward to our close consultation to this end.

Mr. President, at this moment when you are otherwise heavily engaged in your immediate duties, it is my earnest hope that you will understand my genuine concern in this matter. I would appreciate your consideration in securing continued cooperation by the United States Congress and Administration in clarifying the whole matter, in response to the request by the Diet and the Government of Japan.

Sincerely yours,
[signed]
Takeo Miki
Prime Minister of Japan

1. Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders, Box 2, Japan, Prime Minister Miki (2). No classification marking. The Subcommittee on Multi-National Corporations of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had exposed alleged bribes by the Lockheed Corporation to high officials of the Japanese government.
2. Miki asked for Ford’s assistance in disclosing the names of officials involved in the Lockheed scandal.