LETTER TO WILLIAM C. TRIPLETT, II FROM (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000700780011-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 21, 2011
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: October 31, 1986
• Content Type: LETTER

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OCA 86-3643
31 October 1986
Mr. William C. Triplett, II
Committee on Foreign Relations
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Thank you for your letter of 17 October regarding the
Japanese newspaper article. Our response is as follows:
Question 1: Could you provide a Japanese language copy of
the original article: Answer: Copy enclosed.
Question 2: Is the translation accurate? Answer: The
accuracy of the translation has been verified by Foreign Broad-
cast Information Service.
Question 3: Do you have an independent verification of
this proposed program and budget item? Answer: We lack inde-
pendent verification to date. We will keep the Senator's
interest in mind and forward to you any information we receive
if MITI goes forward with the program.
Question 4: Do you have any additional information on
this program? Of particular interest is what states are
targeted? Alaska? Indiana? Kansas? Answer: The only other
information we have is a 22 October Washington Post (copy
enclosed) article, which is based on the Mainichi Shimbun
article.
Question 5: Do you have any information to suggest that
the Japanese have in place or are contemplating similar
programs? Answer: We have no information on existing or con-
templated programs other than the traditional JETRO and
Embassy/Consulate public relations efforts.
Sincerely,
STAT
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1ST STORY of Level I printed in FULL format.
Copyright (c) 1986 The Washington Post
October 22, 1986, Wednesday, Final Edition
SECTION: FINANCIAL; PAGE G1
LENGTH: 511 words
HEADLINE: Japan Eyes U.S. Professionals as Lobbyists
BYLINE: Stuart Auerbach, Washington Post Staff Writer
BODY:
The Japanese trade ministry has proposed using moonlighting American
journalists, business leaders and local chamber of commerce officials to
gather information and promote Tokyo's trade aims.
The 6 200,000 grass roots campaign is designed to blunt growing anti-Japanese
feelings In this country as a result of record U.S. trade deficits, according to
a translation of a report in Mainichi, one of Japan's largest daily newspapers.
The report was circulated on Capitol Hill last week.
The Japanese newspaper article said the campaign will target 10 states this
year, including Missouri, Oregon and Michigan, which have lawmakers active on
the trade front.
Sen. Frank H. Murkowski (R-Alaska), in a letter last week to Japanese
Ambassador Nobuo Matsunaga, warned against the plan, which was proposed by the
Ministry of International Trade and Industry ( MITI) .
"The American people are very sensitive to anything which appears to be
interference in American economic affairs or attempts to influence opinion
makers," Murkowski wrote.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.) also criticized the
Japanese plan and suggested, "They'll find more good will from buying U.S. farm
goods and manufactured products than from glossing over their unfair trade
practices through the smoke and mirrors of public relations.
"If MITI was smart," Heinz continued, "it would invest in real improvements
in Japan's relationship with the U.S. rather than trying to buy a positive image
by buying American journalists and opinion makers."
In a floor statement, Murkowski said that "foreign influence on the media is
a very sensitive subject in the United States." Both senators pointed out that
the Americans Japan hired on a part-time basis would have to register as foreign
agents with the Justice Department and label any information circulated for
domestic use as "propaganda."
Many news organizations, including The Washington Post, prohibit reporters
and editors from working or accepting money from any government.
The Japanese Embassy here said it knows nothing about the proposal by MITI,
which is separate from the Foreign Ministry. MITI is seeking funds for its
plan in next year's budget, according to the Mainichi article.
LEXIS NEZI L EZ(I NE `'
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(c) 1986 The Washington Post, October 22, 1986
The article, which was translated by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, said MITI
wants to hire Americans familiar with their local communities to gain grass
roots information on congressional sponsors of anti-Japanese bills, help
Japanese enterprises move into the United States and blunt U:'S. anger at the
growing Japanese trade surplus. .?
The article said that MITI and the Japanese External Trade Organization
JETRO) , another government agency, already have a list of possible Americans
whom they would like to hire on a part-time basis. Specific professions listed
in the article were business leaders, chamber of commerce executives, lawyers
and local journalists.
Among the states targeted, Michigan is the home of two of the most vocal
critics of Japanese trade practices -- Sen. Don Reigle (D) and Rep. John Dingell
(D).
TYPE: NATIONAL NEWS, FOREIGN NEWS
SUBJECT: UNITED STATES; JAPAN; INTERNATIONAL TRADE; FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
ENHANCEMENT: LOBBYING
LEYLIS NE)XIS LE)XIS NE
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