4
a,
%
td
F
a
a3
cj
ot
COD ie ae
SEGRE
ENCLOSURE V
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
February 9, 1956
FROM; TOKYO
TO
3: Secretary of State
1. Press February 6 and 7 gave top play to Bipartisan
Diet resolution calling fa discontinuation of all nuclear tests.
Resolution to be submitted to lower house February 9.
resolution as reported in the press;
Gist of
"Most pressing of demands are the concern of
prohibition of A and H-Bomb tests.
Yet USSR has
conducted tests without warning and the U.S. now
revealed plans for staging H-Bomb tests at Eniwetok
in the near future.
In addition,
the U.K. reportedly
projecting dimilar weapons tests. The Japanese people
were affected most severly by the A and H-Bombs, proposed
strongly that all future tests of this kind be discontinued by international agreement,
The Government will —
take appropriate steps for submitting proposal to the
U.S. U,S,S.R. and U.K".
2. The resolution is an end product of socialist interpellations on the subject following reconvening of the diet January
30.
Once the diet met, socialists, who had previously announced
plans criticize the Government on this issue, pressed Shigemitsu
hard in effort to embarrass the Government.
Shigemitsu in reply
Was on the defensive, and acmitted theoretical desirability of
ending A and H-Bomb tests but pointing out impractiticability of
formal Japanese request to ti.is effect.
Shigemitsu also,
reportedly, stressed to the Japanese Government efforts to assure
compensation for any damages.
Apparently in this connection,
vice foreign Minister Kadowaki spoke to the press conference
on February 2 that the Japanese Embassy in Washington had sent
a note to the Department concerning safety zones and desire for
compensation.
Finally, the socialists on February 4 decided to
submit resolution calling for ban on atomic and Hydrogen bomb
experiments,
in particular appealing to U,S, to call of the
spring test series. To ward off criticism, liberal democrats
yesterday drafted their own resolution and then agreed on the
joint resolution incorporating the viewpoints of both parties,
Liberal democracts added to the resolution reference initially
to soviet tests and proposal for discontinuing the tests by
"International Agreement”,
|
~ 8 -
WE IME? DECLASSICAONRBVEEW
se fe
eo TE
gre
rea
«
.
3 ho...
edf
e os of DOES Cibveieig
Enclosure V