219. Letter From President Ford to Japanese Prime Minister Miki, Washington, March 11, 1976.1 2
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
His Excellency
Takeo Miki
Prime Minister of Japan
March 11, 1976
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
I have received your letter on February 24. I wish to assure you that I share fully your desire that the allegations concerning Lockheed activities in Japan be clarified without delay. The United States Government will continue to support your efforts to pursue further an investigation of this matter.
The Department of State has forwarded to the Senate and the Securities and Exchange Commission your requests for all available in their possession pertinent to Japan. I believe that much of the material that your government has requested from the Senate Subcommittee on Multinational Corporations has been provided. We are prepared to make arrangements to share with your government the information developed by the SEC, in the course of its inquiry.
I suggest that officials of our two governments meet without delay to work out such arrangements. These procedures would permit law enforcement officials from Japan to work in close cooperation with their counterparts here, with access, on a confidential basis, to relevant information held by United States investigating agencies. The legal and administrative practice of the SEC is not to make public any material relating to an investigation until the investigation is completed. Premature disclosure of such information could well prejudice the law enforcement actions which may ultimately be taken in the United States. It could [Page 2] also prejudice the rights of individuals, whether or not they may ultimately become defendants in criminal actions. These basic requirements of United States law arid practice must be respected, as of course must those of Japan. If these principles are protected, I am sure we can work together effectively.
Arrangements such as I am describing would allow your government’s inquiry into this matter to go forward without hindrance. I hope that such arrangements will prove satisfactory to you.
I agree completely, Mr. Prime Minister, that it is in the interest of both our countries that this matter be cleared up as soon as possible. I also welcome your expression of die need to develop new rules covering corrupt practices, and I hope the Government of Japan can support the United States proposal for an international agreement to curtail such practices. Finally, Mr. Prime Minister, I am confident, as I know you are, that this unfortunate affair will not damage the fundamental and permanent friendship between our countries, which continues to be of crucial importance to the cause of peace and progress in Asia and in the world
Sincerely,
[signed]
Gerald R. Ford
- Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Correspondence with Foreign Leaders, Box 2, Japan, Prime Minister Miki (2). No classification marking. Ford received this letter under a covering memorandum, March 10, from Scowcroft. (Ibid.) A Japanese diplomatic note, March 12, conveyed the Japanese cabinet’s decision to accept the President’s proposal for sharing information relating to the Lockheed scandal. (Decision of the Cabinet on March 12, 1976; ibid.)↩
- Ford replied to Miki’s letter about the Lockheed scandal and suggested that both governments work together to reduce corruption.↩