CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE OPENING OF JAPAN.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01065A000600040050-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 4, 2017
• Document Release Date: April 24, 2008
• Sequence Number: 50
• Publication Date: July 7, 1953
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/04/24: CIA-RDP80-01065A000600040050-3
1 ib~
S C~ INFORMA.,ION_
Cp NTIAL
July 7, 1953
MEMORANDUM TO: PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
SUBJECT; Centennial Celebration of the Opening of Japan-.-
NSC review completed - may be declassified in full
One hundred years ago next Tuesday, July 14,,Commodore
Mathew C;-.Ferry, USN, opened Japan to the outer world. On
July 14, Perry landed and presented a letter from President
Fillmore to the Emperor of Japan containing avowals of friend-
ship, a list of the advantages of.trade with America and a
suggestion that a treaty be drafted. The following March,
Perry returned to Japan as the Presidentts special emissary and
signed the famous trade treaty which laid the groundwork for
the friendly relations between the two nations that have been
unbroken except for the Pacific war.
The Japanese have started to celebrate the Centennial of
Perry's visit. These celebrations will continue until the
anniversary of the signing of the treaty next March. The U.S.'
Government and private organizations have already made plans
for suitable commemoration. The Post Office, the Navy, the
State Department, the Truxton Decatur Museum, and the Naval
Academy are putting on special events.
However, the U.S. Government effort needs pointing up in
some really dramatic way that will tie all of this assorted U.S.
activity together in an expression of national interest in and
friendship for the Japanese people. This should make a hit in
Japan and would help to undercut the Communist effort to drive
a wedge between us and the Japanese people. The following ideas
have been suggested for consideration by Mr. C. D. Jackson;
1. A formal Presidential message of greeting to the Emperor,
for transmittal through the Tokyo Embassy on July 14, with simul-
taneous release in the U.S. (Ambassador Araki to be present at
the White House when message made public). This could be a counter-
part of the President Fillmore message of 1853.
2. An announcement that the President has designated a
personal emissary to visit Japan to retrace the historic steps
of Commodore Perry on his treaty-signing mission in March 1854.
Announcement of the personal emissary could either be made in
the July 14 message or reserved until September 8 on the occasion
of the visit of Crown Prince Akahito to Washington.
Actin Director
?, URITY INFORMAT ON
,CONFIDENTIAL
1
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NSC review completed - may be declassified in full
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Approved For Release 2008/04/24: CIA-RDP80-01065A000600040050-3