The Japan-Philippine reparation negotiation, May 1953-April 1954: Bureaucratic activism and realistic offense

Yoko Yoshikawa

Department/Unit

History

Document Type

Article

First Page

40

Last Page

83

Abstract

The Ohno-Garcia Memorandum concluded on April 15, 1954 was the first substance in the Japan-Philippine reparation negotiations. It came out of a series of intensive negotiations under a time constraint: The Okazaki-Neri talks, Ohno-Garcia talks and the Nagano-Garcia talks from May 1953-April 1954.

This paper attempts to dig up facts of these talks and to make inquiry into the patterns of decision-making process in the two different politics. That Japan's attitude has transformed into bureaucratic activism from conservatism is discernable in the effort of Foreign Minister Okazaki's visit, the role of Mamoru Nagano as an informal negotiator and Katsumi Ohno-s prompt response. But conservatism remains to be observed in the dilemma Okazaki faced, the setback of the Ohno-Garcia Aide-Memoire, and the stalemate over the amount of payment. Economic legitimacy has governed the reparation question in Japan.

The Philippine decision-makers, during the Presidential election campaign in 1953, withheld the reparation issue. When the new Administration came to power in Jan. 1954, realistic but highly political consideration was demonstrated in the acceptance of the idea of economic value, preference of Nagano's private proposal and the finalizing by 400 million dollars. But such decision-making was subject to active opposition due not only to the concession made, but also to the violation of the traditional manner of decision-making.

In general, Japanese negotiators were bound to the instructions of and loyal to the decision-makers where skillful group communication and relay work were required, while the Philippine negotiators were opposed by individuals or groups of decision-makers in the Senate where persuation and threatening were tactically required.

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Disciplines

Diplomatic History

Note

written in Japanese

Keywords

Diplomatic negotiations in international disputes; International relations—History; Philippines—Foreign relations—Japan; Philippines—Foreign relations—1946-1973

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