Speech #820241227

I shall read from the statement: 1. The importance of our relationship with Japan cannot be overemphasized. and we believe that the passage of this bill would be a serious blow to the development of satisfactory and friendly relations with Japan. Both General Ridgway and the United States Embassy in Tokyo have pointed out that the Japanese regard this tuna tariff as a test case for future relationships between the United States and Japan. and attach to It no less importance than to the Japanese Exclusion Act. 2. It Is a test case because Japan must trade to live and the central fact of the Japanese trade problem is the dollar gap. It can be argued. of course. that our trade. too. must live.