Dear Professor Thies,

The C.I.A. approved several covert programs between 1958 and 1968 with an aim toward influencing Japanese politics. The first action undertaken by the C.I.A. was covert financial assistance and electoral advice to LDP candidates before the May 1958 House of Representatives election - to stem the popularity of neutralism and to prevent parties of the Left from gaining seats. Also, in 1959 the C.I.A. began covert payments to moderate members of the JSP to persuade them to split with the party. As far as I know, there is no public record of the JSP members who received payments, but in 1960, of course, several members of the former Right-Wing Socialists broke away from the JSP and formed the DSP. The C.I.A. phased out its covert electoral interference in 1964, but its broader program of "propaganda and social action" targeting Japanese public opinion continued through the end of the Johnson administration. This information can be confirmed in U.S. Department of State, Karen L. Gatz,
ed., Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964-1968, Vol. XXIX, Part 2, Japan.

Best regards,
Benjamin

-------------------------------------------------------
-
Benjamin A. Peters, Ph.D.
Miyazaki International College
1405 Kano, Kiyotake-cho
Miyazaki-shi, Miyazaki-ken
889-1605