Chapter 3. Diplomatic Efforts Made by Japan
Section 1. Prime Minister Tanaka's Visits to Various Countries
Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka made official visits to the United States, France, Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Soviet Union, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia in the summer of 1973 and early in1974, and exchanged frank opinions with the leaders of these countries not only on bilateral relations but also on a wide range of international problems of mutual concern. The Prime Minister's visits were of great significance in today's world where the degree of interdependence among all nations has taken on increased importance and there is a corresponding need for deepening mutual understanding.
As the start of his summit diplomacy in 1973, Prime Minister Tanaka visited Washington, New York, Chicago and San Francisco in the United States from July 29 to August 6, 1973.During his visit, the Prime Minister held talks with President Richard Nixon twice, on July 31 and August 1, in Washington.
The Japan-U.S, summit talks in Hawaii in September 1972confirmed the need for "a constant dialogue," and the summit talks in 1973 formed an important part of this dialogue. The imbalance in trade between Japan and the United States, a pending issue on the occasion of the Hawaii talks, was greatly improved subsequently, and the Washington talks took place under circumstances in which there was no urgent pending problem between the two countries. At the meeting, the leaders of the two countries exchanged frank opinions on the respective roles to be played in the world by Japan and the United States, which have built up a mature partnership, and how they should co-operate with each other. Reflecting the thinking mentioned above, the two leaders in their joint statement issued after the talks confirmed with respect to the roles to be played by the two countries that first, the maintenance of close cooperative relations between the two countries under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty was an important factor in maintaining stability in Asia. They also reconfirmed the two countries' determination to help the reconstruction of Indochina and expressed their preparedness to contribute to the promotion of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and pledged continued efforts for the promotion of regional cooperation in Asia. The Prime Minister expressed positive interest in the so-called Kissinger concept (a declaration of principles), and the two leaders made it clear that Japan and the United States would hold close consultations on this matter.
As for international economic problems, the two leaders reconfirmed that they attached importance to achieving success in multilateral negotiations in the trade and monetary fields in the belief that such problems as currency, trade, natural re-sources, energy and environment needed extensive international cooperation as common problems of the advanced industrial countries. They agreed that the two countries would continue to co-ordinate their efforts to secure stable supplies of energy resources.
The Prime Minister's visit to the United States was of deep significance in that it contributed to the strengthening of communication between Japan and the United States, The Prime Minister made it clear that the Japanese Government intended to contribute funds totaling $10 million to support studies on Japan at American universities, including funds for study courses, Prime Minister Tanaka spoke on Japan's basic diplomatic policy at the National Press Club in Washington, and came into extensive contact with people of all social standings, including Congress members, and also, journalists, financial circles and local political leaders in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. The Prime Minister appeared on NBC's nationwide TV program "Meet the Press" to talk to the Americans directly, His energetic activities promoted a better understanding on the part of the American public about Japan's real situation and the de-sires of the Japanese people, thereby contributing much to the continuation of the "constant dialogue" between the two countries since the Hawaii talks.
2. Visit to Western Europe
Prime Minister Tanaka visited France, Britain and the Federal Republic of Germany from September 26 to October 7and had talks with the leaders of their governments and also of economic circles. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ohira visited Italy from September 27 through 29, after attending the U.N. General Assembly, and attended a periodic Japan-Italy consultative meeting at the Foreign Minister level. The Foreign Minister later accompanied Prime Minister Tanaka on his visit to Britain and Germany.
It was the first visit to Europe by a Japanese Prime Minister in 11 years since the late Prime Minister Ikeda's visit in1962, Prime Minister Tanaka's visit attracted attention at home and abroad as reflecting Japan's enhanced international position and the increased positive character of its diplomatic activities. The host countries also attached importance to the Prime Minister's visit and showed unusually great enthusiasm in receiving him. This was taken as showing the West European countries' understanding of the importance of their relations with Japan. It is believed that the Prime Minister's direct dialogue with the leaders of these countries promoted mutual understanding between Japan and Europe and served as an opportunity to pro-mote cooperative relations between Japan and Europe with in the global framework and contributed to the expansion of Japan's diplomatic base from the standpoint of promoting Japan's diplomacy in a multipolarized age.
In his talks with the leaders of France, Britain and the Federal Republic of Germany, the Prime Minister exchanged frank opinions not only on bilateral problems but also on major international issues, and views were adjusted on the future of the world in many fields. They also discussed concrete ways to promote cooperative relations in such fields as trade, currency, capital movements, energy, culture, science and technology, environment and development cooperation with third countries.
In concrete terms, they confirmed the need for cooperation between Japan and Europe in order to hold successful talks at the Multilateral Trade Negotiations of GATT and on the monetary problem. On the resources issue, they discussed development cooperation with third countries and various other possibilities from the common viewpoint that Japan and Europe heavily depend on foreign countries for natural resources.
As examples of concrete cooperation, Japan and France agreed in principle that Japan would purchase enriched uranium from the EURODIF S.A. enriched uranium plant, which was being pushed under French initiative. Between Japan and Britain, Japan's participation in the development of the North Sea oil field was discussed, while agreement was reached between Japan and Germany on the establishment of a joint committee on resources.
In connection with the so-called Kissinger concept proposed by the United States in April 1973, the nature of cooperative relations among Japan, the United States and Europe were discussed.. Apart from the form of such cooperation, they agreed on the need for more extensive relationships between Japan and Europe and to hold close consultations.
As regards economic relations between Japan and Europe, which can be regarded as the pivot of their close relations, Prime Minister Tanaka specifically mentioned that the exchange between them was still not adequate enough considering the economic strength of both sides and stressed the need for efforts to develop their economic relations over a wide range of fields, including capital, science and technical exchange in addition to trade, in the form of balanced expansion, Moreover, Prime Minister Tanaka explained that for that purpose, Japan had shifted its production-oriented economic policy of the past to a welfare-oriented policy and was making efforts to liberalize trade and capital, and requested further efforts on the part of the enterprises of Western Europe to do business in Japan. Considering the possibility that mutual distrust could arise from various friction-causing factors in economic relations between Japan and Europe, including obstacles that might stand in the way of West European enterprises planning to do business in Japan, the Prime Minister showed a positive attitude toward re-solving those factors, thereby making a strong impression on the host countries.
As for cultural exchange, the Japanese Government offered to make financial contributions equivalent to \30O million each to France, Britain and the Federal Republic of Germany for the promotion of Japanese studies in these countries, The offer was accepted with gratitude by the leaders of these countries, and it is expected that such funds will greatly contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and Europe. It was also of great significance from the point of cultural inter-change between Japan and France that President Georges Pompidou of France agreed to lend the Mona Lisa to Japan.
3. Visit to the Soviet Union
Following his visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, Prime Minister Tanaka, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ohira, paid an official visit to the Soviet Union from October 7 through 10.
It was the first visit made by a Japanese Prime Minister in 17 years since the then Prime Minister Hatoyama's visit on the occasion of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Soviet Union in 1956. Prime Minister Tanaka's visit was made in accordance with the standing invitation of General Secretary Brezhnev of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party to the Prime Minister of Japan to visit the Soviet Union, which was confirmed in his letter addressed to the Prime Minister (see page 111 of the Diplomatic Blue book for 1972). On the occasion of his visit to the Soviet Union, the Prime Minister held frank talks with General Secretary Brezhnev and other top-ranking leaders of the Soviet Union over a wide range of bilateral relations, including the northern territorial issue.
In his four rounds of talks with General Secretary Brezhnev and other Soviet leaders, and also his meeting with Chair-man Nikolay Podgorny of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, Prime Minister Tanaka asked the top Soviet leaders to take resolute action on the northern territorial issue from a broad point of view, stressing that the issue could not be avoided if truly good-neighborly relations were to be established between Japan and the Soviet Union, and that the top leaders of both countries were charged with the mission of settling this problem.
As a result, "both sides have recognized that the conclusion of a peace treaty by settling various pending problems since World War II will contribute toward the establishment of truly good-neighborly relations between the two countries, and discussed various problems concerning the contents of a peace treaty. They have also agreed on the continuation of negotiations for the conclusion of a peace treaty at an appropriate time in 1974," as mentioned in paragraph 1 of the Japan-Soviet joint communique dated October 10. The top leaders of both countries also confirmed that "various pending problems since World War IP' included the northern territorial issue.
In view of the Soviet Union's consistent stand before that the territorial issue had been settled, the talks mentioned above can be regarded as having opened the way for the settlement of the northern territorial issue.
On the occasion of the Prime Minister's visit to the Soviet Union, the top leaders of the two countries also discussed other pending problems between Japan and the Soviet Union. They signed a treaty on the protection of migratory birds, an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation and detailed arrangements for a cultural agreement.
General Secretary Brezhnev and Chairman Podgorny and Premier Kosygin accepted the Prime Minister's invitation to visit Japan, and it was agreed to have separate consultations to decide the timing of their visits to Japan.
4. Visit to Southeast Asia
(1) Prime Minister Tanaka visited five Southeast Asian countries, namely, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia from January 7 to 17, 1974.
It was the first visit made by a Japanese Prime Minister in six years since Prime Minister Sato's visit in 1967, During this period, the international environment surrounding Asia rapidly changed, including the normalization of relations between Japan and China and the conclusion of the Vietnam cease-fire agreement. At the same time, Japan and the Southeast Asian countries had made big strides in expanding their relations of interdependence centering on the economic field.
During his visit under these circumstances, the Prime Minister exchanged frank opinions with the leaders of the host countries on the international situation, especially on a wide range of problems such as the situation in Asia, regional cooperation, economic affairs and economic cooperation. Their talks proved fruitful for the promotion of mutual friendship and cooperation.
On the occasion of his visit, the Prime Minister made the following principles clear as Japan's basic attitude toward the Southeast Asian countries with which it has close relations:
(i) Promotion of good neighbor relations with the Southeast Asian countries to share peace and prosperity with them.
(ii) Respect for the independence of those countries.
(iii) Promotion of mutual understanding with those countries.
(iv) Contribution to the economic development of those countries without disturbing their economic independence.
(v) Respect for voluntary regional cooperation among those countries.
The leaders of the host countries all welcomed the Prime Minister's explanations about the principles mentioned above, and these principles were incorporated in each of the joint press releases issued by Japan and the respective host country.
The leaders also discussed bilateral relations in depth. As for economic cooperation, Japan expressed its preparedness to cooperate positively in the development efforts of the host countries and agreed to give a third yen credit to Malaysia.
In connection with the oil crisis, the leaders of all the host countries urgently requested that Japan ensure stable supplies of oil-related products, especially fertilizers. In reply, the Prime Minister explained in detail the effects of the oil crisis on the Japanese economy and, at the same time, made it clear that Japan would respect to the greatest extent possible the con-tracts already made in order to avoid an adverse influence of the oil crisis on the economies of those countries.
(2) Criticism of Japan has increased in various Southeast Asian countries in recent years against its sharply increased enormous economic presence, the business methods of Japanese enterprises and also the behavior of Japanese residents in those countries. On the occasion of the Prime Minister's visit, local students staged anti-Japanese demonstrations and riots in Bangkok and Jakarta, Protests also occurred in Malaysia and else-where.
Under these circumstances, the Prime Minister made it clear that Japan would amend what it should amend on the basis of its basic position stated in (1) above, At the same time, he frankly pointed out that the criticism against Japan included problems that fell within the competence of the governments of the host countries and endeavored to correct those points which apparently stemmed from misunderstandings on their part.
As mentioned above, moves critical of Japan were evident to varying degrees in the countries visited by the Prime Minister, except the Philippines. On the other hand, the South east Asian countries need Japan's aid or economic strength for their own nation-building efforts and, in this context, they are showing the basic posture of placing increasing expectations on Japan's cooperation, Japan, which lacks natural resources, also needs smooth development of its economic relations with the Southeast Asian countries to maintain its prosperity and enrich its national life.
Despite moves to criticize Japan, the summit talks in those countries took place in a friendly atmosphere on the basis of such an understanding, and these confirmed anew the inter-dependent relationships that exist between Japan and the South-east Asian countries. At the same time, the common under-standing was reaffirmed that it was necessary to promote such relations further in a constructive manner in the direction of mutual benefit. This was the biggest achievement of the Prime Minister's visit.
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