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

JAPAN–U.S. SECURITY TREATY, REVISION NEGOTIATIONS • 135
the same time that Japan began making incremental increases to the
size of its self-defense forces, Japanese Foreign Minister Aiichiro Fujiyama,
who served in Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi’s government,
began negotiations with Washington in October 1958 to revise the
one-sided mutual defense treaty. A revised treaty was signed on 19
January 1960 and became effective on 23 June. The new treaty stipulated
that in the event of the external military attack against Japan, the
United States would assume responsibility for defending Japan, while
in case of U.S. forces stationed in any of the territories under Japanese
administration coming under attack, Japan would act in their defense.
In addition, the revised treaty eliminated a clause in the initial
treaty that gave the responsibility for preventing domestic warfare and
civil disorder in Japan to U.S. forces.
The revised treaty, which was to last 10 years, also contained these
elements: an automatic renewal clause; a new clause describing economic
cooperation between the two countries treaty; and a stipulation
that when the United States makes an important change in the alignment
of U.S. forces stationed in Japan or their equipment as a result
of plans by Japan-based U.S. forces to initiate military operations,
Washington would first hold prior consultation talks with Tokyo.
The most controversial part of the revised treaty concerned Article
Nine: “For the purpose of contributing to the security of Japan and the
maintenance of international peace and security in the Far East, the
United States of America is granted the use by its land, air and naval
forces of facilities and areas in Japan.” Opponents of treaty revision in
Japan argued that even if Japan was not directly affected by a conflict
in the “Far East” and that non-interference was Japan’s best policy option,
Article VI created the risk of Japan begin drawn into the conflict
once Japan-based U.S. forces initiated military operations. Moreover,
opponents expressed fears that by entering into a closer military relationship
with the United States, Japan would lose its diplomatic independence.
For these reasons, strong political resistance to treaty revision
developed across Japan. Following much contentious debate, on 19
May 1960, the Liberal Democratic Party took advantage of its majority
strength in the Lower House of Japan’s Diet to push through parliamentary
ratification of a revised treaty. This precipitated huge demonstrations
against the revised security treaty all across Japan. In accordance
with Article 59 of the Japanese constitution, the revised treaty