Edwin O. Reischauer And The Development Of U.S.-Japan Partnership 1961-1966

Japan is the most important alliance of U.S. in the Far East. Japan was converted from an enemy of World War II to an alliance whom together with U.S. confront Communism as soon as the Cold War broke out in the area. U.S.-Japan relations experienced a transformation from unequal to equal partnership since Japan gained its independence. The signing of U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security of 1960 (usually known as New U.S.-Japan Security Treaty) preluded a U.S.-Japan partnership. As American Ambassador to Tokyo during this critical period, Edwin 0. Reischauer propagated the concept of U.S.-Japan equal partnership to both American and Japanese.Chapter one is about the origin of Reischauer’s contact with East Asia, his achievements in East Asia Studies and comprehensive contact with various stratum of East Asian countries, which set up the groundwork for his mission in Japan in the later years.Chapter two is Reischauer’s endeavor to change U.S. policy toward Okinawa (Ryukyus). Reischauer persuaded U.S. government to accept the Government of Japan (GOJ) would increase its influence in Okinawa gradually for the consideration of U.S. permanent interest in Japan, specifically, allow GOJ increase its economic assistance to Okinawa. Reischauer promoted U.S. government re-examine its Okinawa policy before his resignation, and his recommendations led to President Johnson give up Blue Skies Policy and approve of the reversion of Okinawa to GOJ. Finally, Okinawa problem was resolved in the favor of Japan, and in return GOJ decided to prolong the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security automatically in 1970.Chapter three reflects the negotiation progress of U.S. Navy utilization of Japanese ports between Reischauer and Japanese Governments. U.S. Nuclear Powered Warship’s (NPW) requirements for Japanese ports became increasingly urgent as the U.S. military technology improvement and U.S. military involvement in Vietnam War. U.S. NPW’s port visiting was not only a diplomatic problem in U.S.-Japan relations, but also a domestic political issue of Japan. Reischauer confirmed with Japanese Government that port call at Japan of NPW was not "prior consultation" in sense of the New U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, and as a result they could visit Japan legally. Furthermore, Reischauer positively cooperated with GOJ in educating Japanese nationals on nuclear issues, and effectively helped them to overcome their "nuclear-phobia", which assured NPW’s mooring in Japan successfully. U.S. Navy’s utilization of Japanese port is to implement the security provisions of U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. It is also a concrete performance of U.S.-Japan equal partnership.Chapter four describes Reischauer’s endeavorto promot U.S. and Japan cooperation in Southeast Asia economic assistance. Reischauer promoted the two governments reach a settlement on GARIOA as soon as he assumed office in Tokyo and allocated Japanese payments for Southeast Asia assistance. In order to promote Japan assume the prime responsibility of free world in the Far East, so as to reduce U.S. economic burden in this area, Reischauer persuaded the Japanese into cooperating with U.S. actions in Southeast Asia. Sato administration supported the establishment of Asian Development Bank (ADB) energetically. And with the purpose of respond to President Johnson’s massive development plan in Southeast Asian, GOJ called for a Southeast Asia Development Ministerial Conference, and through which Japanese Government mediate different economic development plans from various countries of this area. Finally, Japan succeeded U.S. undertook the main responsibility in Southeast Asia, and U.S. military responsibility and Japanese economic responsibility in the Far East reached a balance.