222. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, April 22, 1976.1 2
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Memorandum of Conversation
Date: April 22, 1976
SUBJECT: Secretary’s Meeting with Ambassador Togo
PARTICIPANTS:
- Ambassador Fumihiko Togo
- The Secretary
- Assistant Secretary Habib
- William Sherman, EA/J(notetaker)
DISTRIBUTION: S (Aherne, S/S, WH (Rodman)
Ambassador Togo: I greatly appreciate your taking the time to receive me. You must be terribly busy immediately before your trip to Africa.
The Secretary: No, I’ve wanted to see you very much. Unfortunately my brilliant staff has arranged your call on a day when I have next to no time at all. We cannot have an extended conversation today, but I will see you again the week I come back from this trip. I want to tell you the great importance which we attach to our relations with Japan. I remember our meetings in Tokyo with great warmth and I want to assure you that you can see me at any time. We will certainly have a good talk on my return.
Ambassador Togo: I appreciate that very much. I want you to know, Mr. Secretary, that we are very happy with the good, friendly and effective communication between our Embassy and the Department. When Mr. Ingersoll was here, we felt we had a real Japan expert and friend, and with Mr. Habib moving up we look forward to continuing a close relationship. Your own willingness to see my predecessors and me on frequent occasions has been very comforting.
[Page 2]The Secretary: We consider Japan to be the keystone of our foreign policy in the Pacific. You can be sure our attention will remain very close. Although we have had some unfortunate issues arise recently, they have had nothing to do with governmental decisions. I am confident that we can handle them in a way that will not harm our basic relationship.
Ambassador Togo: The agreement worked out between us for transfer of information is a good one. However, the political temper in Japan is still high, and you may have heard that the Diet deliberations have been stalled. In order to get them going and conduct essential business it was necessary to make a compromise and agree to the despatch of a special envoy to Washington. My guess is that it will be Mr. Miyazawa.
The Secretary: He will always be warmly received. When is he coming?
Ambassador Togo: He hasn’t been designated yet. I know how busy you are.
Mr. Habib: I’ve been telling the Ambassador how crowded your schedule is in May.
The Secretary: We will always be able to see Mr. Miyazawa. (to Mr. Habib) As a practical matter, I have only ten days; have you determined what lunches are available?
Mr. Habib: We don’t know yet whether he will be named or when the Diet will allow him to come.
The Secretary: I want to give a lunch or a dinner for him.
Mr. Habit: We’ll strike for a lunch.
The Secretary: (to Ambassador Togo) You tell Minister Miyazawa I intend to have a lunch for him. We will rearrange other things.
Ambassador Togo: He hasn’t yet been appointed, Mr. Secretary.
Mr. Habib: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. If you hadn’t said that, the Secretary would believe that I was preventing him from seeing the Foreign Minister.
The Secretary: What will he wish to discuss if he comes — Lockheed?
[Page 3]Ambassador Togo: The trip comes because of the Lockheed controversy. But he will wish to raise other matters.
The Secretary: As you know, I have kept myself out of the Lockheed matter. I can tell him no more than anyone else. We have to follow our judicial procedures; it is not a foreign policy matter.
Mr. Habib: Your government understands and expects that, doesn’t it Mr. Ambassador.
The Secretary: I have no discretion in this. Although I’ll be glad to speak to Mr. Miyazawa, I am bound by our judicial procedures.
Ambassador Togo: Prime Minister Miki has made it absolutely clear that he will not seek to renegotiate the agreement for exchange of Lockheed materials as the opposition has insisted. He is fully aware of the legal constraints here.
The Secretary: You can be assured that we’ll do our best to handle the issue in the way most beneficial to our relationship. You understand our problems and we understand yours.
Ambassador Togo: I’m happy to see that although foreign policy has come up as an issue in the campaign, there has been no criticism of US policy toward Japan.
The Secretary: They’re attacking us about Hanoi now. But, seriously, the basis of our Pacific policy is our friendship with Japan. That is not an issue.
Ambassador Togo: Once more, Mr. Secretary, I would like to thank your Department for the fine communication you maintain with my Embassy.
The Secretary: I will have a meeting set up for the week I get back. Mr. Ambassador, you are always welcome here. Anything the Department can do, or I personally can do for you, you need only ask.
[Page 4]Ambassador Togo: Thank you. I wish you a pleasant trip to Africa. You’ll be seeing Mr. Kimura there. He was a good Foreign Minister.
The Secretary: He was an excellent Foreign Minister and we were close friends. I look forward greatly to seeing him again.