Agreed minute to Joint Communique of United States President Nixon and Japanese Prime Minister Sato issued on November 21, 1969
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AGREED MINUTE TO JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF UNITED STATES PRESIDENT NIXON AND JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SATO ISSUED ON NOVEMBER 21, 1969
United States President:
As stated in our Joint Communique, it is the intention of the United States Government to remove all nuclear weapons from Okinawa by the time of actual reversion of administrative rights to Japan; and thereafter the treaty of Mutual Corporation and Security and its related arrangements will apply to Okinawa, as described in the joint Communique.
However, in order to discharge effectively the international obligations assumed by the United States for the defense of countries in the Far East including Japan, in time of great emergency the United States Government will require the re-entry of nuclear weapons and transit rights in Okinawa with prior consultation with the Government of Japan. The United States Government would anticipate a favorable response. The United States Government also require the standby retention and activation in time of great emergency of existing nuclear storage locations in Okinawa: Kadena, Naha, Henoko,and Nike Hercules units.
Japanese Prime Minister:
The Government of Japan, appreciating the United States Government's requirements in time of emergency stated above by the President, will meet the these requirements without delay when such prior consultation takes place.
The President and the Prime Minister agreed that this Minute, in duplicate, be kept each in only in the office of the President and the Prime Minister and be treated in the strict confidence between only the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Japan.
Washington D.C. November 21, 1969
Richard Nixon (signature)
Eisaku Sato (signature)