TOKYO —

The Foreign Ministry had kept the English-version document of a secret Japan-U.S. pact that outlines the handling of the U.S. forces’ nuclear weapons since 1960, a former senior ministry official said Saturday. The document had been placed under the strict supervision of the ministry’s North American Affairs Bureau and Treaties Bureau, which is now International Legal Affairs Bureau, said the official who served as director general of the Treaties Bureau.
   
It is the first time that the existence of the English-version document at the ministry has been revealed. A former vice foreign minister has already confirmed the existence of a Japanese-version of the document at the ministry. Under the pact, Japan agreed, when it revised the security treaty with the United States in 1960, to allow U.S. military ships to carry nuclear weapons on such occasions as when they make port calls at Japanese ports. The government has denied the existence of such an agreement.
   
The Japanese government upholds the ‘‘three nonnuclear principles’’ of not possessing, producing or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory.

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6 Comments

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  smithinjapan at 09:31 PM JST - 11th July

  Ah, hypocrisy! The government tries to fool the world into thinking it's a champion of denuclearization and all the while it does exactly what it says it is against. Next to be revealed is likely a document stating that Japan has warehouses with all the necessary components to build nuclear bombs and which can be put together quickly in the event that they are 'needed'. Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

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  Simon_Foston at 11:27 PM JST - 11th July

  Ah, hypocrisy! The government tries to fool the world into thinking it's a champion of denuclearization and all the while it does exactly what it says it is against.

  Yes, well, it must have been a Republican administration that the LDP stitched up the deal with. That must make it all right. After all, Eisenhower's government was so helpful in getting the CIA to channel cash to the LDP and arrange for the Yakuza to beat up the left-wingers for them, they probably felt they needed to do something to return the favour.

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  amerijap at 04:34 AM JST - 12th July

  Under the pact, Japan agreed, when it revised the security treaty with the United States in 1960, to allow U.S. military ships to carry nuclear weapons on such occasions as when they make port calls at Japanese ports.

  If such agreement was written in the English-version of document, then how is it reflected on the Japanese-version of document?

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  sharky1 at 08:47 AM JST - 12th July

  They lost their copy, and the US gave them another English copy. They are still trying to read it.

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  TheMarion at 01:46 PM JST - 12th July

  As Al Jolson said, "You ain't heard nothing yet" The Japanese destroyed Takichi Nishiyama when he spilled beans on this "Secret Pact." But wait, you'll be disgusted when you hear what this amounts to. This entails just how the Japanese brought about a reversion which is completely UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

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  apecNetworks at 04:53 PM JST - 12th July

  There was a "promise" or "vow" if you will, made during the Occupation that the Japanese leaders made to Gen. MacArthur, and until 1989, the Japanese kept the promise even if they didn't have to try. I will always respect that, and the "vow" was null after 1989. May they all RIP.

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