Japanese Foreign Policy and Domestic Politics: The Peace Agreement with the Soviet Union

After the withdrawal of the Allied Occupation forces, many Japanese political leaders sought for their country a larger and more independent role in world affairs. Thus, the newly installed Hatoyama Government made known its desire for normal diplomatic relations with both the Soviet Union and the (Communist) Republic of china—a goal that became a major Party slogan.

The subsequent negotiations for a peace agreement with the Soviet Union precipitated intense domestic political controversy, ...