Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-04
Some Japanese
See Refusal by
Dulles as Slap
But Tokyo Officials
Deny Any Affront on
Rejection of TuIks

TOKYO. April 4 (P.-United
States Secretary of State John
Foster Dulles today declined a
japanese request for immediate
top level policy talks in WASH
ington.
However. a Japanese govern
ment source said Mr.. Dulles
action was not considered an
affront.
Opposition politicians here
pounced on the rundown as a
slap at the conservative govern
ment of Prime Minister Ichiro
Hatoyama.
Newspapers talked of a posi-
BILE political crisis. Government
leaders discounted this and adj
mitted they had not given the
United States enough notice.
Only Friday, Japan had pro-
posed sending Foreign Minister
Mamoru Shigemitsu to WASH
ington this week to try to iron
out growing differences between
the United States and Japan,
especially on rearming the for
mer Axis partner.
Later Date Suggested.
Mr.. Dulles said today his
schedule would not permit ade-
quate time to prepare for talks
now. but suggested later date.
(The State Department said
that certainly no affront was
intended" Press Officer Lin
coin White, pointing out that
Mr.. Dulles suggested talks be
bel dlater, said it was impos-
sible to prepare for conferences
on important international
matters within a few days.
For one thing, he said, agencies
other than the State Depart
ment would be involved in the
discussionS.)
Authoritative sources said lead
ers of Mr.. Hatoyama's Demo-
cratic Party had decided on a
political gamble-to try on
short notice to send a special
envoy to Washington. They
wanted him % to "sell" the
new Prime Minister to the
United States, (2) to get Amer
lea to temporarily let up on it's
pressure for Japan to rearm
faster and ca to try to get
America to understand" Japan's
need to resume relations with
her Communist rieighbors, Rus
STA and Red China.
The government felt a new
approach on the defense issue
was urgent. United States Off
Gals In Tokyo have refused to
grant q cut in Japan's share of
the cost of stationing United
States troops here. Japan's pro-
posed budget is based on a cut.
The projected visit leaked to
Tokyo newspapers before it could
be cleared with the United States.
Hatoyama Disappointed
Mr. Hatoyama told reporters
he was disappointed at WASH
ington'S reaction but he acknowl-
edged Japan should have con-
suited the United States earlier.
A government source said 1.-THE
Prime Minister does not consider
Mr., Dulles reply an affront."
Socialist Party leaders called
the Washington reply disgrace
and death blow" to the Hato-
yama cabinet. Chairman Mitsu
Kono of the right Socialist Diet
policy committee said it means
the United States will not agree
to cutting Japan's $155 million
share Of the $3.50 million to $3.50
million annual cost of keeping
American troops here, and the
government will have trouble
with its budget.
Japan had planned to increase
to 1922 million the new outlay
for its own f1edgling defense
force If the United States would
agree to lowering its share of
the Joint United States troop
cost.
Last year Japan spent $2l3
million. United States Officials
repeatedly insist Japan must
spend $3.50 million on its own
forces before they cut her share
of the joint cost.