The 18th Disclosure of Diplomatic Records
May 21, 2004
Since 1976 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has disclosed its records that are more than 30 years old.
On December 24, 2003, the Ministry completed another round, its 18th, of its diplomatic record disclosure, when 121 files (90 items) became newly available.
These diplomatic records are available to the public at the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1-5-3 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo Tel:+81-(0)3-3585-4511, Fax:(0)3-3585-4514), in the form of microfilm (for the first to 17th Disclosure) and in the form of CD-R (for the 18th).
The records disclosed in this 18th round are those from the 1953-1974 period and are divided into the following categories:
- Bilateral Diplomatic Relations
- Visits to Foreign Countries by Japanese High Officials
- Visits to Japan by Foreign Dignitaries
- International Conflicts and Wars
- United Nations
- Bilateral Agreements (Reparations and Compensations)
- Bilateral Agreements (Others)
- Multilateral Agreements
- Regulation and Control Problems
For further information please see the Lists of Items in the Annex.
The number of files of diplomatic records that were disclosed from the first disclosure in 1976 to the 17th disclosure in December 2002 totals 11,397. The latest disclosure brings the total to 11,518.
ANNEX
LIST OF ITEMS
GROUP I
A. BILATERAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
| 1-12. | Japan-Britain Relations: Regular Japan - Britain Consultations 1 file, 0120-2001-01051 (A'131.1-4) (April - June 1963) - First Meeting: 1 file, 0120-2001-01052 (A'131.1-4-1) (June - September 1963) - Second Meeting: 2 files, 0120-2001-01053/01054 (A'131.1-4-1/1-4-2) (May 1963 - May 1964) - Third Meeting: 3 files, 0120-2001-01055/01056/01057 (A7131.1-4-3/1-4-3-1/1-4-3-2) (April 1964 - February 1965) - Fourth Meeting: 2 files, 0120-2001-01058/01059 (A'131.1-4-4/1-4-4-1) (February - November 1965) - Fifth Meeting: 1 file, 0120-2001-01060 (A'131.1-4-5) (March - December 1966) - Sixth Meeting: 2 files, 0120-2001-01061/01062 (A'131.1-4-6/1-4-6-1) (February 1967 - July 1968) |
| 13/14. | Japan-New Zealand Relations: Regular Japan - New Zealand Consultations 1 file, 0120-2001-01092 (A'131.8-1) (September 1964 - November 1970) - First Meeting: 1file, 0120-2001-01093 (A'131.8-1-1) (September 1964 - October 1967) |
| 15. | Japan - Federation of Malaya Relations 1 file, 0120-2001-01101 (A'131.9) (July 1957 - July 1973) |
| 16. | Japan - Soviet Union Relations: Business reports 1 file, 0120-2001-01126 (A'133.2-1) (March 1948 - January 1957) |
B. VISITS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES BY JAPANESE HIGH OFFICIALS
| 17. | Special Envoys and Goodwill Missions to various countries 1 file, 0120-2001-01192 (A'150.1) (November 1952 - March 1953) |
| 18. | Special Envoys and Goodwill Missions to American countries 1file, 0120-2001-01342 (A'152.1) (February 1958 - August 1968) |
| 19/20. | Visit to American countries by Special Envoy Shojiro Kawashima 2 files, 0120-2001-01344/01345 (A'152.1-2, Vol.1 & 2) (July - September 1968) |
| 21. | Special Envoys and Goodwill Missions to European countries 1 file, 0120-2001-01502 (A'153.1) (September 1957 - June 1967) |
| 22/23. | Visit to European countries by Special Envoy Shojiro Kawashima (1966.10) 2 files, 0120-2001-01503/01504 (A'153.1-1, Vol.1 & 2) (May 1966 - May 1967) |
| 24. | Special Envoys and Goodwill Missions to Middle Eastern and African countries 1 file, 0120-2001-01544 (A'154.1) (December 1956 - August 1965) |
| 25. | Visits to Middle Eastern and African countries by Japanese high officials 1 file, 0120-2001-01545 (A'154.2) (December 1958 - October 1966) |
C. VISITS TO JAPAN BY FOREIGN DIGNITARIES
| 26/27. | High officials of Burma 2 files, 0120-2001-01570/01571 (A'161.5, Vol.1 & 2)(January 1952 - May 1966) |
| 28. | Brig. Gen. Aung Gyi of Burma 1 file, 0120-2001-01574 (A'161.5-2) (October 1959 - October 1961) |
| 29. | High officials of the United States 1 file, 0120-2001-01627 (A'162.4, Vol.4) (January1963 - September 1965) |
| 30. | Mr. Mišo Pavicvic, Deputy State Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia 1 file, 0120-2001-01681 (A'163.6-2) (April - May 1967) |
| 31. | Special Envoys and Goodwill Missions of Ceylon 1 file, 0120-2001-01737 (A'164.2-1) (March - July 1954) |
| 32/33. | Minister of Finance of India, Morarji R. Desai 2 files, 0120-2001-01747/01748 (A'164.4-3, Vol.1 & 2) (June 1959 - October 1962)34-37. High officials of Australia |
| 34-37. | High officials of Australia 4 files, 0120-2001-01764/01765/01766/01767 (A'164.6, Vol.1 - 4) (April 1953 - August 1974) |
| 38. | Premier of New South Wales, Australia, Robert James Heffron 1 file, 0120-2001-01771 (A'164.6-3) (December 1962 - May 1963) |
| 39. | High officials of Pakistan 1 file, 0120-2001-01815 (A'164.12) (August 1953 - September 1968) |
| 40. | Minister for Education, Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan, Habibur Rahman 1 file, 0120-2001-01817 (A'164.12-2) (March 1958 - February 1960) |
| 41. | Prime Minister of Turkey, Adnan Menderes 1 file, 0120-2001-01835 (A'165.5-1, Vol.3) (August 1957 - April 1958) |
| 42. | High officials of Israel 1 file, 0120-2001-01838 (A'165.7) (January 1954 - May 1962) |
D. INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS AND WARS
| 43-45. | The Vietnam Conflict: 2 files, 0120-2001-05051/05052 (A'710.15, Vol.1 & 2)) - Military situation: The Tonkin Gulf Incidents (1964.8) 1 file, 0120-2001-05069 (A'710.15-2-2) Total 3 files (March 1956 - February 1973) |
| 46-48. | World War II: War Damage Investigation 2 files, 0120-2001-05178/05179 (A'720.1-2, Vol.1 & 2) - World War II: US Strategic Bombing Survey 1 file, 0120-2001-05180 (A'720.1-2-1) Total 3 files (February 1946 - February 1961) |
| 49-51. | World War II: Damage caused by the Japanese Army to Nationals of other countries (including diplomats and consuls) 1 file, 0120-2001-05182 (A'720.1-4) - Case of Italian nationals 1 file, 0120-2001-05183 (A'720.1-4-1) - Case of the Chinese consuls executed in Manila and Sandakan 1 file, 0120-2001-05184 (A'720.1-4-2) Total 3 files (March 1945 - June 1960) |
| 52. | World War II: Summary translation of "Strategic surrender: the politics of victory and defeat " by Paul Kecskemeti 1 file, 0120-2001-05185 (A'720.1-5) (March 1959) |
| 53. | World War II: War Investigation Committee 1 file, 0120-2001-05186 (A'720.1-6) (October 1945 - August 1946) |
| 54/55. | World War II: Adolf Eichmann case 1 file, 0120-2001-05190 (A'720.1-10) - Eichmann case: Newspaper articles 1 file, 0120-2001-05191 (A'720.1-10-1) (June 1960 - November 1962) |
| 56. | World War II: Data on force of arms and organization of the Army of the Southeastern District 1 file, 0120-2001-05193 (A'720.1-12) (May 1950) |
E. UNITED NATIONS
| 57-59. | United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders 3 files, 0120-2001-08465/08466/08467 (B'236.8, Vol.1, 2 & 3) (February 1955 - October 1970) |
| 60/61. | United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders: Asia and the Far East Seminar on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders 2 files, 0120-2001-08468/08469 (B'236.8-1, Vol.1 & 2) (March 1954 - December 1957) |
| 62-65. | United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders: Asia and the Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders 1 file, 0120-2001-08470(B'236.8-2) (March 1961 - November 1969) - Staffs 1 file, 0120-2001-08471 (B'236.8-2-1) (August 1961 - October 1969) - Training courses 1 file, 0120-2001-08472 (B'236.8-2-2) (November 1961 - November 1969) - Advisory Committee 1 file, 0120-2001-08473 (B'236.8-2-3) (February 1964 - January 1969) |
F. BILATERAL AGREEMENTS (REPARATIONS AND COMPENSATIONS)
| 66. | Disposition of Japanese assets in Allied countries under Article 14, paragraph(a), 2 of the Peace Treaty 1 file, 0120-2001-09624 (B'312.7) (October 1952 - October 1962) |
| 67/68. | Claims for Compensation Against Japan by Ex-Axis Countries and Neutral Countries: Agreement between Japan and Denmark for Settlement of Certain Claims for Compensation by Denmark - Records of meetings 1 file, 0120-2001-09681 (B'312.9-5-1) (May 1956 - December 1957) - Settlement of claims for the Danish ships 1 file, 0120-2001-09691 (B'312.9-5-4-1) (May 1941 - May 1959) |
| 69-76. | Agreement of September 21, 1967, between Japan and the Republic of Singapore 5 files, 0120-2001-09752 - 09756 (B'313.1, Vol.1 -5) - Research papers and data 1 file, 0120-2001-09757 (B'313.1-1) - Arrangement for Implementation of the Agreement 1 file, 0120-2001-09758 (B'313.1-2) - Implementation 1 file, 0120-2001-09759 (B'313.1-3) Total 8 files (February 1962 - May 1968) |
G. BILATERAL AGREEMENTS (OTHERS)
| 77/78. | Agreement between the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Government of Japan and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Application of Agency Safeguards in respect of the Bilateral Agreement between Those Governments for Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy 2 files, 0120-2001-10046/10047 (B'510.J/B2, Vol.1 & 2) (January 1963 - November 1967) |
| 79. | Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy 1 file, 0120-2001-10048 (B'510.J/B3) (September 1966 - March 1968) |
| 80. | Agreement between the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Government of Japan and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Application of Agency Safeguards in respect of the Agreement between Those Governments for Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy 1 file, 0120-2001-10049 (B'510.J/B4) (April - October 1968) |
| 81-94. | Mutual Defence Assistance Agreement between Japan and the United States of America (MSA) 2 files, 0120-2001-10407/10408(B'510.J/U7, Vol.1 & 2) - Preparation for negotiation and reference papers 1 file, 0120-2001-10410 (B'510.J/U7-1) - Agreement drafts 2 files, 0120-2001-10413/10414 (B'510.J/U7-2, Vol.1 & 2) - Records of the meetings 1 file, 0120-2001-10416 (B'510.J/U7-3) - Drafting Committee 1 file, 0120-2001-10417 (B'510.J/U7-4) - Japanese Government's financial contributions under Article VII, para.2 of the Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement 1 file, 0120-2001-10418 (B'510.J/U7-5) - Joint Japanese-United States Council 1 file, 0120-2001-10419 (B'510..7-6) - Debates in the Diet 1 file, 0120-2001-10420 (B'510.J/U7-7) - Questions and Answers 1 file, 0120-2001-10421 (B'510.J/U7-7-1) - Public opinion and newspaper editorials 1 file, 0120-2001-10422 (B'510.J/U7-8) - Petitions 1 file, 0120-2001-10423 (B'510.J/U7-9) - Military Assistance Advisory Group, Japan (MAAG) 1 file, 0120-2001-10424 (B'510.J/U7-10) Total 14 files (February 1953 - May 1959) |
| 95. | Exchange of Notes between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Dominican Republic Constituting an Arrangement Concerning Reciprocal Waiving of Passport Visas 1 file, 0120-2001-11059 (B'520J/DO4) (September, 1955 - December 1957) |
| 96. | Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Japan and Mexico 1 file, 0120-2001-11233 (B'520J/M2) (September 1951 - February 1957) |
| 97-100. | Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between Japan and Laos 1 file, 0120-2001-11619-11622 (B'530.J/LA1) (December 1956 - January 1963) |
H. MULTILATERAL AGREEMENTS
| 101-116. | International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling: International Whaling Commission 2 files, 0120-2001-12820/12821 (B'640.8-1, Vol.1 & 2) (May 1951 - June 1966) - Japan's adherence to and withdrawal from the Convention 1 file, 0120-2001-12854 (B'640.8-2, Vol.2) (February - September 1959) - Other countries' adherence to and withdrawal from the Convention 1 file, 0120-2001-12855 (B'640.8-3) (October 1956 - March 1964) - Domestic Committee on whaling 2 files, 0120-2001-12856/12857 (B'640.8-4 , Vol.1 & 2) (April 1951 - June 1966) - Committees 1 file, 0120-2001-12858 (B'640.8-5) (November 1952 - July 1967) - Scientific Sub-Committee 1 file, 0120-2001-12864 (B'640.8-5) (November 1953 - March 1965) - Meetings of the North Pacific whaling countries 3 files, 0120-2001-12866/12867/12868 (B'640.8-5-4, Vol.1-3) (April 1964 - July 1972) - Newspaper articles 2 files, 0120-2001-12869/12870 (B'640.8-6, Vol.1 & 2) (August 1955 - July 1966) - Communications regarding whaling 1 file, 0120-2001-12873 (B'640.8-8) (July 1958 - September 1965) - International Whaling Statistics 2 files, 0120-2001-12876/12877 (B'640.8-10, Vol.1 & 2) (February 1954 - December 1963) |
I. REGULATIONS AND CONTROL PROBLEMS
| 117. | Some cases of dishonoring national flags 1 file, 0120-2001-15137 (D'230.8) (December 1951 - August 1965) |
GROUP II
Repatriation of foreigners from Japan after the end of World War II: Chinese labourers
4 files, 0120-2001-26470/26471/26472/26473 (K'730.1-2-2, Vol.1-4) (November 1942 - April 1960)
END
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