Presidential Papers, Doc#1544 Cable To Nobusuke Kishi, 24 May 1960. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Document #1544; May 24, 1960
To Nobusuke Kishi
Series: EM, AWF, International Series: Japan ; Category: Cable
The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XX - The Presidency: Keeping the Peace
Part IX: Shattered Dreams; March 1960 to July 1960
Chapter 22: Disaster in Paris

 

Dear Mr. Prime Minister: I was heartened to learn that the Lower House of the Japanese Diet has given its approval to the new Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States.2 This action was a welcome demonstration of Free World unity and is a great step forward to the consummation of that indestructible partnership which you and I have long held as our common goal.3 I feel it promises significant progress in our search for peace with justice.4

With warm personal regard, Sincerely

1 This message was cabled to the American embassy in Tokyo to be delivered to Prime Minister Kishi. A draft of this letter containing Eisenhower’s handwritten emendations and a May 20 cover letter to the President from Secretary Dillon are in AWF/I: Japan. See also Herter to Eisenhower and enclosed drafts containing Eisenhower’s handwritten emendations, April 23, 1960, ibid., and Memorandum of Conference with the President, May 23, 1960, AWF/D.

2 On January 19 in Washington Eisenhower had witnessed Kishi and Secretary Herter signing the treaty. On May 20 the lower house had approved the treaty. The pact provided that the United States would defend Japan in case of an attack; the United States also promised to consult with the Japanese if U.S. forces based in Japan were to be deployed to other areas. Japan would take action if either nation were attacked in the territories under Japanese administration. The Diet proceedings had been conducted in an atmosphere of mounting tension. Leftist demonstrators had condemned the treaty as one that would expose Japan to involvement in possible war between the United States and Communist China or the Soviet Union (see no. 1564). For background on the recent U-2 incident, which had heightened fears of Soviet retaliation, see no. 1531. Some American U-2 spy planes operated from Japanese airfields.

Adoption of the treaty was virtually assured because the Japanese government held a majority of nearly two-to-one in the upper chamber, or House of Councillors. The treaty would be ratified automatically on June 20. It would be ratified by a 90 - 2 vote in the United States Senate on June 22 and would become effective that same day (Congressional Quarterly Almanac, vol. XVI, 1960, pp. 228 - 29; State, Foreign Relations, 1958 - 1960, vol. XVIII, Japan; Korea, pp. 295 - 301; Eisenhower, Waging Peace, p. 561, and New York Times, May 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, June 19, 21 - 23, 1960).

3 Eisenhower would repeat these sentiments in a radio and television address to the American people on June 27 (Public Papers of the Presidents: Eisenhower, 1960 - 61, pp. 529, 532 - 34).

4 For developments on U.S.-Japanese relations see nos. 1571 and 1647.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. Cable To Nobusuke Kishi, 24 May 1960. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1544. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/second-term/documents/1544.cfm

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