FOREIGN OFFICE FILES FOR JAPAN AND THE FAR EAST
Series Two: British Foreign Office Files for Post-War Japan, 1952-1980
(Public Record Office Classes FO 371 and FCO 21)

Part 2: Complete Files for 1954-1956
(PRO Class FO 371/110400-110530, 115220-115306 & 121030-121101)

This part covers files for 1954-1956, a period of rapid economic growth and development for Japan, which also saw her entry into GATT and the United Nations. Subjects covered in Part 2 include:

1954 -
- Revision of the Constitution of Japan
- Sterling-Yen exchange rate
- Tariff negotiations with Japan under GATT
- Bikini atom-bomb explosion: waves of anti-American feeling in Japan; question of claims for compensation
- Land reform in Japan
- Mutual Security Aid Treaty signed by US and Japan

1955 -
- Agreement on status of UN Forces in Japan
- Economic situation and policy in Japan
- Political parties in Japan
- Socialists in Japan reunite as a single party; the two main Conservative parties join forces in a coalition known as the Jiyu-Minshuto or Liberal Democrats
- Visits to UK by Japanese ministers
- Labour conditions and trade unions in Japan

1956 -
- Internal political situation in Japan
- Resumption of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Soviet Union
- Sales of aircraft and aero engines to Japan
- Decision not to invoke article 26 of Peace Treaty with Japan
- Reform of Supreme Court in Japan
- National population census in Japan

The following extracts give an impression of some of the material:

FO 371/115226: Japan: Socialist Parties’ Manifesto, 1955: Manuscript minute by R T Higgins on front of file:

"It is perhaps surprising that the two Socialist Parties have so soon solved their personal difficulties and have all but succeeded in merging. It is too early to tell how successful the new combination will be - and how firm the links between the parts .... We must now hope that their (the right wing socialists) more cautious, democratic line will capture the party.... Certainly the new party will present no immediate threat to conservative government in Japan but we cannot afford to be quite so calm about this as Chancery are in para 4. Nothing succeeds like success; the socialists could win an election within a year over relations with China, as Mr Hatoyama did in February over relations with Russia. How unfortunate this would be would largely depend on the party’s leaders - and how far the fellow travellers crept into leading positions.... we shall have to watch the new party carefully."

FO 371/110498: Record of discussions at the PM’s dinner for Mr Yoshida , 27 October 1954:

"The PM expressed his admiration for General MacArthur. Mr Yoshida replied that he also had a great respect for Gen. MacA. He particularly regretted that after the war Gen. MacA’s views had not been followed and that the United States had not occupied Manchuria. If they had done so China would not now be Communist and would be detached from the Soviet Union. Manchuria was the key point..."

Extract from FO 371/121034: Sir Esler Dening (British Ambassador, Tokyo) to Rt Hon Selwyn Lloyd (at the Foreign Office), 15 June 1956, folios 148-149:

"Attention then turned to the Upper House where the Socialists, made over-bold by their earlier successes, determined to prevent the passage of the Education Law Revision Bill. Here they were less closely in tune with public mood, for there is much dissatisfaction at the unwieldy fashion in which the post-war education system has worked, whilst conservative allegations about the left-wing sympathies of many teachers have aroused concern. But Socialist members of the House of Councillors were urged on by the Japan Teachers' Union, a wealthy body which comprises more than one-sixth of the total membership of the politically powerful General Council of Japan Trade Unions and which is an important influence on the Socialist Party. With the help of colleagues from the Lower House the Socialists succeeded in holding up business for several days during the last week of the session in a series of brawls during which a number of persons were injured. Finally on June 2 the President of the House, who is a leading member of the Liberal-Democratic Party, summoned 500 policemen into the Diet buildings and the Education Bill was passed whilst some twenty constables stood by in the Chamber to protect the President from further Socialist violence. This was the first occasion on which the metropolitan police have actually entered one of the chambers of the post-war Diet in Japan.

The calculation of the Socialist Party seems to have been that provided the conservatives could be provoked into calling on the police public opinion would once again move against the Government, and the Secretary-General of the Socialist Party is known privately to have defied his Liberal-Democratic counterpart to introduce police forces to the Diet. No doubt the Socialists had it in mind that at the time of the notorious Diet brawl of June 3, 1954, the conservative Speaker was much criticised for calling policemen into the Diet building despite the fact that the Socialists had themselves brought in some trade union thugs. But in fact this year the press was unanimous in its criticism of Socialist conduct in the Diet, and many papers have called on the electors to show their disapproval by refusing their votes to Socialist candidates in the Upper House election next month. The elector is, however, faced with a Hobson's choice, for he can have confidence in neither of the two parties since both have shown themselves so irresponsible in the course of this Diet Session.

Should the Liberal-Democrats do well in the forthcoming elections the Government will probably call an extraordinary session of the Diet and pass all the legislation which has now failed to win approval, introducing new bills in the place of those which have been dropped. In that case the violence of the twenty-fourth session will have served no purpose other than to bring parliamentary democracy in Japan into further disrepute. Should, however, the Socialists manage to win one-third of the seats in the House of Councillors, amendment of the Constitution which requires a two-thirds majority in both houses will not be possible for the next three years and parliamentary business may then be able to proceed in a calmer atmosphere..."