-2- 79, July 10, 2 p.m., from Tokyo.
go to the US in September.
Okazaki said he fully understood
and agreed on the undesirability of having to bring the matter
before Congress.
He asked me to give him several days in which
to discuss the problem and promised to talk to me agsin early
next week. He did say that he thought if compensation were to
be made on ex gratia basis that it should be in round figures
such as 700,000, 800,000 or best of all $1 million. He thought
that if figures such as $750,000 or $850,000 were involved it
would create necessity for explaining in detail how the figure
was reached and this would take away from overall effect of payment.
.
This morning's press carries brief story quoting informed sources
as saying that US has offered $1 million compensation but that
Japanese are holding out for approximately 53 million.
I telephoned Okazaki and told him I was most distressed to see public
mention of any figure and pointed out that as he knew, US had not
made offer of million dollars.
He said he was quite embarrassed
and professed not to know source of story. He told me Foreign
Office would hold press conference and in referring to press
stcries would say that no definite figure had yet been mentioned
in our talks. He again said he hoped to be able to talk to me
more definitely next week about final government reection to
our offer.
Press has at same time quoted statements made at
Upper House Fisheries Committee meeting July 7 by Minister of
State Ando.
Ando is reported to have said that Okazaki has
been informed of opinion of Fisheries Committees of the two
Houses as well as to Ando that in obtaining compensation for
injuries he should not pursue "weak-kneed" foreign policy. He
is further quoted as saying "I want the US to compensate us for
'semi-direct injuries' too."
ALLISON
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