FOREIGN OFFICE FILES: JAPAN AND THE FAR EAST

Series Two: British Foreign Office Files for Post-War Japan
(Public Record Office Class FO 371)

Parts 1 - 4: Complete files for 1952-1962

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

"It is most welcome news that the files on Japan from the Public Record Office for the years 1952-1962 are now available on microfilm. Students of post-World War II Japanese foreign affairs, international relations, the Cold War, and US and UK foreign policies will find here a wealth of invaluable material. Historians have found Public Record Office documents the main starting point for their research, and, given the still undeveloped field of post-war Japanese history, these documents are certain to provide new data and fresh perspectives that will contribute enormously to our knowledge."

Akira Iriye

Professor of History

Harvard University

This collection of documents covers the crucial period of Japanese development from the end of the Allied Occupation in 1952, to the establishment of Japan as a major economic power in the early 1960s.

Making available for the first time Files only Recently Opened to Research, the material in this archive contains a wealth of information from the British Foreign Office Central Political Files concerning Japan. Drawing on Reports, Correspondence, Telegrams, Memoranda, Despatches, Official Instructions and Regular Communications between the Foreign Office and the British Embassy and Consulates in Japan, many of the most pressing issues of the day are discussed and appraised.

Subjects covered range in scope from Annual Reports and fortnightly summaries of events in Japan (for each year covered in the series), Japanese political, social and economic issues, to criminal jurisdiction over UN forces in Japan, foreign relations and territorial disputes.

Parts 1-4 of this microfilm project will offer complete files for 1952-1962.

"These British archives provide invaluable analyses of Japan’s social, economic and political development, and fully document her changing relations with Britain and the Commonwealth."

Dr Gordon Daniels

Reader in Modern Far Eastern History

University of Sheffield and President of the European Association of Japanese Resource Specialists

Part 1 covers files for 1952-1953, the years that saw the resumption of full national sovereignty for Japan and efforts to boost national productivity in order to catch up with the West. Specific files for this period include:

1952

Japanese Politics

Japanese Communist Party: campaign of violence and sabotage against the Police, occupation installations and communications systems

International attitudes towards Japan and her policies

Anglo-US differences over Japan

Eisenhower’s visit to Japan in December 1952

US relations with Japan; visit to Japan by US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles

British Iron and Steel Corporation purchases of Japanese steel

Japanese-Korean negotiations for the settlement of mutual relations

Japan’s relations with China and Formosa

Japan’s trade relations with countries in South East Asia

Japan and GATT

"Depurging" by the new reviewing authority set up to determine qualification for public office

British Iron and Steel Corporation purchases of Japanese steel

“Bases problem” - US and UN troops still in Japan;

Growth of Anti-American feeling in Japan; presence of many troops because of Korean War

1953

Political relations between Japan and Nationalist and Communist China

Visit of HM Consul in Formosa to Tokyo

Economic reports on Japan, December 1952 to November 1953

Five-year economic plan for Japan designed to increase overall production by 70%

UN forces in Japan: facilities and status

Political relations between Japan and the United States

Social welfare legislation: Emancipation of Japanese women, tendency of the Japanese social security system to restrain the development of Communism

Scholars and Researchers can examine Yoshida’s success in implementing the Security Treaty with the United States, the conversion of the National Police Reserve into the National Security Force, the fulfilment of his undertaking to John Foster Dulles to conclude a Peace Treaty with Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists on Formosa, the passage of the Subversive Activities Law, the important role of Chief Justice Tanaka Kotaro and understand the development of Japan’s post-war industrial strength through the wealth of evidence assembled in these British files.

Part 2 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

Part 3 brings together the complete files for 1957-1959 looking at such issues and
events as:

1957

Foreign policy of Japan

Double taxation agreement between Japan and UK

Long term defence plans of Japan

Tests of guided missiles in Japan

Ministry of Labour in Japan

1958

US reaction to election of Communist mayor in Okinawa, Japan

Visit to Europe by President Sumitomo, Bank of Japan

Royal family of Japan

Foreign exchange budget of Japan

Arrest of fishing vessels from Japan by China

Relations between Japan and China - breakdown of negotiations on a fourth trade agreement

1959

Appointments to government of Japan

Trade of Japan

Commercial relations between Japan and US

Dunlop Company plans for further investment in Japan

Oil and Coal industry of Japan

Part 4 provides the files for 1960-1962, years that witnessed Japan’s continued rapid economic growth and emergence on the world stage as a major economic power. There are files on the following subjects:

1960

Japan: Annual Review

Fortnightly reports on political situation

Ten year Plan for doubling wages

Japan’s foreign trade

Political relations between Japan and Soviet Union

Political relations between Japan and the United States

1961

Motor Industry, Engineering and Industrial Growth

Agriculture and Rice Production

Education

Prime Minister Ikeda’s visit to the United States

1962

Treaty of Commerce between Japan and Britain

Relations with China, Britain and the United States

Liao-Takasaki Memorandum on Trade

Ikeda’s Election success

Political developments and notes on Political Factions

Sino-Soviet dispute

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...”

FO 371/99404     

Letter from John Foster Dulles to the

Prime Minister (Winston Churchill), 17 January 1952:

"I have just come from the Capitol where I heard your magnificent address. I greatly appreciated your reference to the Japanese Peace Treaty which, largely due to my conception, became a UK-US co-sponsored document and we presented a common front which largely explains the world following we obtained. I am sorry that in the last day or two there has developed some misunderstanding between our Governments with reference to Japan’s China Policy; but this does not alter my deep conviction which, indeed, I hold in relation to this matter, that we should strive increasingly for a common position...”

Full contents of reel information is available on the first reel of each part. This paperback guide covers Parts 1-4 of this microfilm project providing complete files for each year for the period 1952-1962.

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