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Historical Dictionary of United States-Japan ... - Bakumatsu Films

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110 • II, NAOSUKE<br />

For all the logic inherent in Hull’s arguments, he has come under<br />

criticism for drawing a false line between diplomatic and military<br />

considerations. According to this criticism, he should have used<br />

diplomacy not to browbeat the <strong>Japan</strong>ese but rather to allow the Pentagon<br />

to focus more properly on Germany, which had long been considered<br />

the principal threat to American security.<br />

– I –<br />

II, NAOSUKE (1815–1860). Daimyō <strong>of</strong> Hikone domain, Naosuke Ii<br />

was appointed chief minister <strong>of</strong> the Tokugawa shogunate in 1858. Ii<br />

negotiated and signed the Ansei Treaties with the <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong>,<br />

Britain, and France without gaining the approval <strong>of</strong> the imperial<br />

house. He also negotiated an acrimonious shogunal succession dispute.<br />

These actions and decisions created many enemies for Ii and the<br />

Tokugawa shogunate, and Ii dealt harshly with his enemies by having<br />

many imprisoned and several executed. He was assassinated by<br />

samurai from Mito and Satsuma domains in March 1860. See also<br />

HARRIS, TOWNSEND; U.S.–JAPAN TREATY OF AMITY AND<br />

COMMERCE.<br />

IKEDA, HAYATO (1899–1965). The <strong>Japan</strong>ese politician Hayato Ikeda<br />

was born in Hiroshima. After graduating from the Law Department<br />

<strong>of</strong> Kyoto University, he was an <strong>of</strong>ficial in the Ministry <strong>of</strong> Finance<br />

from 1925 to 1948. In 1947, he was promoted to vice minister <strong>of</strong> Finance.<br />

In 1949, he was elected to the House <strong>of</strong> Representatives. Ikeda<br />

was immediately appointed finance minister in the third Shigeru<br />

Yoshida Cabinet. In 1950, he also held the post <strong>of</strong> minister <strong>of</strong> international<br />

trade and industry. Supported by Prime Minister Shigeru<br />

Yoshida, Ikeda was an ardent advocate <strong>of</strong> the Dodge Line, the ninepoint<br />

economic stabilization plan directive. He became Secretary<br />

General <strong>of</strong> the Liberal Party in 1954. After the amalgamation <strong>of</strong> the<br />

two major conservative parties, Ikeda served as minister <strong>of</strong> finance<br />

(1956–1957) and minister <strong>of</strong> international trade and industry<br />

(1959–1960). He became prime minister in 1960. After severe turmoil<br />

because <strong>of</strong> controversy surrounding the revision <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>Japan</strong>–U.S. Security Treaty, Ikeda maintained a low pr<strong>of</strong>ile, advo-

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