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The 15th Disclosure of Diplomatic Records

July 2000

Since 1976 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has been disclosing its records that are more than 30 years old. These diplomatic records are available to the public in the form of microfilm at the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1-5-3 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Tel: +81-(0)3-3585-4511, Fax: +81-(0)3-3585-4514).

On May 29, 2000, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs implemented another round, its 15th, of the diplomatic record disclosure, with 752 files becoming newly available.

These records are divided into the following five groups;

I. Bilateral Diplomatic Relations

  1. Bilateral Relations, 1940s to 1960s
  2. Overseas Official Visits by Japanese High-Level Officials
  3. Visits to Japan by Foreign Dignitaries

II. Problems Related to International Conflicts

III. Bilateral Treaties

  1. Treaties of Peace and Reparation Agreements
  2. Treaties/ Agreements and Conferences (Commerce and Finance)
  3. Treaties/ Agreements and Conferences (Economy and Industry)

IV. Multilateral Treaties

V. Emigration of Japanese People

The records in above I.A include those related to the reestablishment of diplomatic relations after World War II with countries such as Thailand, Turkey and Belgium, the establishment of diplomatic relations with newly independent nations, and the holding of regular consultations with some European countries.
The records in above I.B. cover official visits to foreign countries by Japanese Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers and other Cabinet Ministers, while the records in above I.C. cover visits to Japan by foreign high-level officials.
The records in above III. cover those peace treaties and reparation agreements mainly with the Southeast Asian countries as well as those treaties/agreements of trade, commerce, finance and air service with a number of countries which were concluded or for which negotiations were held during the period between 1951 and 1969.
Included in the records in above IV. are those related to the Agreement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and to the establishment of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The records in above V. concern Japanese emigration to foreign countries after World War II. Out of 752 files disclosed this time, 507 fall under this group.

For further information please see the List of Items in the Annex.

Furthermore, the previously disclosed diplomatic records are also available at the Diplomatic Archives. A total of 9,393 disclosed files of diplomatic records is available from the first disclosure in 1976 to the 14th disclosure in 1998 (a total of 10,145 files to the 15th disclosure).

[Annex]

List of Items in the 15th Disclosure

I. BILATERAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

A. Bilateral Relations with:

  1. Thailand
    (1 file, September 1945-December 1964)
  2. Vietnam (The Democratic Republic of)
    (1 file, July 1957-May 1966)
  3. Mongolia
    (1 file, February 1960-November 1968)
  4. Israel
    (1 file (Vol.2), January 1957-December 1964)
  5. Turkey
    (1 file, February 1952-December 1964)
  6. Saudi Arabia
    (1 file, April 1955-July 1961)
  7. Kuwait
    (1 file, August 1961-October 1964)
  8. Some European and African Countries
    (1 file, June 1960-August 1970)
  9. Italy
    (3 files, August 1964-April 1967)
  10. Belgium
    (1 file, October 1951-January 1964)
  11. Madagascar
    (1 file, November 1962-September 1965)
  12. Upper Volta (Burkina Faso)
    (1 file, March 1961-March 1964)
  13. Algeria
    (1 file, July 1962-August 1967)
  14. Ireland
    (1 file, January-March 1961)
  15. Liberia
    (1 file, October 1959-September 1961)
  16. United Kingdom: Foreign Minister Fujiyama's meeting with Premier MacMillan
    (1 file, January 1958)
  17. United Kingdom: Meeting on Anglo-Japanese Cooperation on Africa
    (1 file, April 1962-January 1965)
  18. The Commonwealth Countries
    (1 file, August 1964-September 1965)
  19. Ghana
    (1 file, October 1959-February 1962)
  20. Czechoslovakia
    (1 file, December 1957-May 1967)
  21. Poland
    (1 file, June 1961-January 1968)
  22. Bulgaria
    (1 file, January 1963-March 1968)
  23. Romania
    (1 file, May 1960-May 1966)
  24. East Germany (The German Democratic Republic)
    (1 file, December 1959-January 1967)
  25. Peru
    (1 file, August 1963-February 1969)

B. Overseas Official Visits by Japanese High-Level Officials

  1. Official Visit by Prime Minister Eisaku Sato to the Republic of China
    (5 files, December 1966-September 1967)
  2. Official Visits by Foreign Minister Aiichiro Fujiyama to India
    (1 file, July-November 1958)
  3. Official Visits by Foreign Minister Etsusaburo Shiina to:

    a) The United States, Canada and Central and South American Countries (September1966)
    (3 files, November 1965-November 1966)

    b) Europe (January 1966)
    (1 file, September 1965-February 1966)

  4. Official Visits by Foreign Minister Takeo Miki to:

    a) Mexico
    (2 files, May-December 1967)

    b) Europe (1968)
    (1 file, March-August 1968)

    c) Europe (1967)
    (2 files, February 1967-September 1968)

  5. Official Visits by Cabinet Ministers and others

    a) Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ichiro Kono's Visit to Europe and the United States
    (1 file, July-November 1955)

    b) Former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida's Visit to Europe and the United States
    (1 file, March-May 1962)

    c) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Kotaro Tanaka's Visit to the United States, Europe, India and Dominican Republic
    (1 file, September 1955-January 1956)

    d) Visit by Special Envoys and Missions to Asian and the Pacific Countries
    (1 file, February 1952-February 1966)

    e) Visit by Special Envoy Takeo Miki to Asian and the Pacific Countries
    (1 file, December 1955-March 1956)

    f) Visit to the Republic of China by Mission headed by Special Envoy Mitsujiro Ishii
    (1 file, June-October 1956)

    g) Visits to Asian and the Pacific Countries by Ministers, Ex-Ministers and other Key Persons
    (1 file, November 1954-July 1968)

    h) Deputy Foreign Minister Matsuhei Mouri's Visit to the Republic of China
    (1 file, March 1958-March 1964)

    i) Agriculture and Forestry Minister Raizo Matsuno's Visit to the Southeast Asian Countries
    (1 file, May 1966-January 1967)

    j) Agriculture and Forestry Minister Tadao Kuraishi's Visit to the Southeast Asian Countries.
    (1 file, October-December 1967)

C. Official Visits to Japan by Foreign Dignitaries from:

  1. Thailand
    (4 files, January 1952-March 1969)
  2. Republic of China
    (2 files, August 1948-December 1967)
  3. Indonesia
    (1 file, August 1962-June 1965)
  4. India
    (1 file, November 1959-July 1962)
  5. Singapore
    (1 file, November 1956-September 1966)

II. PROBLEMS RELATED TO INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS

  1. Studies on Permanent Neutrality
    (2 files, 1946-1968)
  2. Studies on Probability of World War III
    (1 file, August 1950-November 1962)

III. BILATERAL TREATIES

A.Treaties of Peace and Reparation Agreements

  1. Indonesia

    a) Treaty of Peace and Reparation Agreement between Japan and Indonesia
    (20 files, January 1954-April 1958)

    b) Treaty of Peace and Reparation Agreement between Japan and Indonesia;
    Interim Agreement on Reparations concerning Salvage of Sunken Vessels
    (4 files, December 1951-March 1954)

  2. Philippines
    Negotiations on Reparation between Japan and the Philippines;
    the Interim Agreement on Reparations concerning Salvage of Sunken Vessels
    (6 files, November 1952-November 1956)
  3. Thailand
    Certain Claims for Reparations by Ex-Axis Countries and Neutral Countries:
    Agreement between Japan and Thailand concerning Settlement of "Special Yen Problem"
    (15 files, 1948-May 1952)
  4. France
    Protocol between Japan and France relating to Settlement of Special Yen Account with the Yokohama Specie Bank in the name of the Bank of Indochina
    (6 files, 1952-1957)
  5. Dominican Republic
    Negotiations for Treaty of Friendship between Japan and the Dominican Republic
    (1 file, December 1956-January 1957)
  6. Treaties between the United States and the Philippines (including those on General Relations and on Military Bases)
    (1 file, November 1949-December 1965)

B. Treaties/ Agreements and Conferences (Commerce and Finance)

  1. Asian and the Pacific Countries

    a) Ceylon (Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation)
    (3 files, January 1953-February 1957)

    b) Cambodia (Accord Commercial)
    (3 files, July 1954-February 1965)

    c) New Zealand (Negotiations for Agreement on Tariffs and Agreement on Trade)
    (4 files, April 1952-September 1961)

  2. European Countries

    a) Belgium (Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (1 file, April 1951-June 1952)

    b) Denmark (Trade Negotiations)
    (1 file, January 1959-September 1964)

    c) France (Arrangement Commercial and Arrangement Financiel)
    (7 files, April 1951-July 1962)

    d) Finland (Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (1 file, April 1952-February 1953)

    e) Greece (Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation)
    (1 file, April-August 1953)

    f) West Germany (The Federal Republic of Germany)
    (Treaty of Commerce and Navigation) (1 file, June 1952-December 1962)

    g) Italy (Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (7 files, January 1954-January 1958)

    h) Ireland (Negotiations for Trade Agreement)
    (1 file, November 1959-September 1967)

    i) Yugoslavia (Agreement on Trade and Payments)
    (1 file, October 1952-April 1962)

    j) The Netherlands (Payments Agreement and Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (3 files, October 1948-January 1958)

    k) Portugal (Trade Arrangement)
    (5 files, March 1932-May 1968)

    l) The Soviet Union (Treaty of Commerce and Agreement on Trade and Payments)
    (11 files, October 1956-March 1960)

  3. Other Countries

    a) The United Arab Republic (Egyptian Region) (Trade and Payments Arrangement and Negotiations for Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (4 files, August 1958-April 1961)

    b) Chile (Trade Arrangement and Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (3 files, November 1951-May 1964)

    c) Cameroon (Accord Commercial)
    (1 file, September-October 1962)

    d) Costa Rica (Trade Agreement)
    (2 files, April 1963-September 1965)

    e) Dahomay (Accord Commercial)
    (1 file, October 1962-February 1964)

    f) Iraq (Trade Agreement)
    (1 file, February 1953-September 1964)

    g) Iran (Trade Arrangement and Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (7 files, January 1954-December 1961)

    h) Israel (Trade Arrangement)
    (1 file, December 1952-October 1961)

    i) Jordan (Negotiations for Trade Arrangement)
    (1 file, September 1954-February 1961)

    j) Lebanon (Agreement on Trade and Payments)
    (1 file, February 1953-September 1960)

    k) Mexico (Convention of Commerce)
    (4 files, March 1962-December 1969)

    l) Mali (Accord Commercial)
    (1 file, September 1964)

    m) Madagascar (Accord Commercial)
    (1 file, July 1962-September 1964)

    n) Peru (Convention of Commerce)
    (3 files, July 1952-December 1961)

C. Treaties/ Agreements and Conferences (Economy and Industry)

  1. Afghanistan (Agreement concerning the Establishment of Training Centre for Small-Scale Industries)
    (1 file, January 1961-March 1965)
  2. Indonesia (Negotiations for Fishery Agreement)
    (2 files, February 1951-January 1952)
  3. The Philippines (Agreement concerning the Establishment of Technological and Development Center for Cottage and Small-Scale Industries)
    (1 file, July 1964-September 1970)
  4. The United Kingdom (Postal agreements)
    (1 file, March 1951-March 1959)
  5. Republic of Korea (Agreement for Air Services)
    (3 files, March 1966-July 1968)
  6. Central and South American Countries (Agreements for Air Services)
    (1 file, December 1952-November 1953)

(Note: A part of titles of Bilateral Treaties/ Agreements are in French or provisionally translated into English.)

IV. MULTILATERAL TREATIES

A. United Nations:

  1. Agreement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
    (17 files, 1952-1964)
  2. Inter-governmental Maritime Organization (IMCO)
    (2 files, February 1953-May 1958)
  3. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
    (2 files, April 1962-August 1968)

B. Asian Development Bank (ADB)

(18 files, July 1955-December 1968)

V. EMIGRATION OF JAPANESE PEOPLE

[Outline of Records of Emigration]

The records dealing with details of Japanese emigration after World War II are disclosed this time. The systematic emigration resumed in 1952 with a batch of emigrants in agriculture to Brazil. Starting from 1946, the records include those on the said resumption of emigration as one of the important policies of Japan, and those on details of emigration to South and North American countries, etc., which took place till 1960. They cover a wide range of issues related to emigration, i.e. emigration policy, administration, recruitment of emigrants to respective settlements, issue of passports, dispatch, survey of site for settlements, circumstances surrounding emigrants after settling down, institutions for emigration, such as the Federation of Japan Overseas Associations, Japan Emigration Promotion Co., and Overseas Emigration Service. The records on a regional basis are also made available, including those on the circumstances of emigrants in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Colombia, added by those in the United States, Canada and some countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The records of emigration are arranged in files of Category 'J', and are subdivided into eight clusters, File Code J'0.0.0. through File Code J'1.2.0., as follows:

J'0.0.0.
Work Related to Emigration and Issue of Passport,
Prefectures' Reports on Emigration to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
J'1.0.0.
Emigration Statistics and Studies,
Survey of Circumstances of the Japanese Emigrants at Various Settlements, Data, Maps, and Reports,
Recruitment of Emigrants,
Institutions for Emigration in Japan.
J'1.1.0
Emigration Policy, as a Whole and on a Regional Basis,
Laws and Administration Concerning Emigration,
Institutions for Emigration and their Activities, Including the Federation of Japan Overseas Associations, Japan Emigration Promotion Co., Overseas Emigration Service, Prefectural Overseas Associations, and Some Private Organizatioons for Emigration,
Dispatch of Short-term Workers to the United States and Mine Workers to West Germany,
Transport of Emigrants,
Emigration Agencies at Yokohama and Kobe,
Dispatch of Agricultural Trainees to U.S., Canada and Brazil, Overseas Emigration Council.
J'1.1.1.
Emigration to Brazil
Circumstances of Emigrants and the Settlements under the Jurisdiction of Consulates-General of Japan at Sao Paulo, Belem, Porto Alegre, Recife and Manaus, Emigration Policy, Recruitment of Emigrants, Family Reunion, Dispatch from Japan, etc.
J'1.1.2.
Emigration to Argentina
Circumstances of Emigrants to Argentina, etc.
J'1.1.3.
Emigration to Paraguay
Circumstances of Emigrants to Paraguay, etc.
J'1.1.4.
Emigration to Colombia
Circumstances of Emigrants to Colombia, etc.
J'1.2.0.
Emigration Laws and Policies of the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Italy,
Newspaper Articles on Emigration,
Emigration-related Organizations in Foreign Countries.

END

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