The Courteous Guests

For U.S. officialdom, it has long been an article of faith that Japanese resentment over U.S. occupation of Okinawa stems largely from ignorance of the true state of affairs. Acting on this assumption. General Lyman Lemnitzer, U.S. commander in. the Far East, last month invited twelve prominent Japanese politicians and businessmen to visit the island and see conditions for themselves.

The visitors, led by Daisuke Takaoka, conservative member of Japan's Diet, got red-carpet treatment all the way. General Lemnitzer himself flew down with them. Tokyo, genially wined and dined them at the plush Ryukyus Command Officers' Club. Scooting about the island in a fleet of khaki-colored Chevrolets escorted by white-helmeted MPs. the Japanese talked with everyone from the Communist mayor of Naha to farmers whose land had been requisitioned by the U.S. military. What they saw--new towns, new roads, new factories--was in great contrast to the derogatory stories that the jingoistic Japanese press had been reporting, or the banners that greeted them in Okinawa about "inhuman hellish activities of the Americans." As they boarded the plane that was to take them back to Tokyo, they were full of praise. "What the U.S. has done here is wonderful," said one. Said Takanaga Mitsui of the famed Mitsui industrial clan: "In some ways you Okinawans are better off than the Japanese." Added another Japanese Diet member: "We want the U.S. to stay in Okinawa as long as there is a Russian and Chinese threat."

Pleased as punch with this apparent propaganda triumph, Okinawa's American rulers failed to recall the extreme politeness required of a guest by Japanese etiquette. This oversight was sharply brought to their attention last week when Parliamentarian Takaoka issued a public report on the visit. Among his recommendations: P: Americans should turn over civil administration of Okinawa to Japan. P: Okinawans should be allowed to fly the Japanese flag. P: Unless it would "inconvenience" U.S. strategists, all troops on Okinawa should be moved to the uninhabited north end of the island.

With a sputter strongly reminiscent of Colonel Blimp, the U.S. State Department promptly asserted that Takaoka spoke for no one but himself and certainly not for the Japanese government. But Tokyo's Asahi Shim bun saw things differently. "The report," said Asahi, "is expected to build up public opinion behind Premier Kishi in his forthcoming talks in Washington. Kishi will certainly want to talk about Okinawa."

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