Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

DECLASSIFIED OFFICE OF State DED Dept. E/O. 12065, Guidelines, NLT, Sec. Date March 3.402 9-10-80 6, 1982H E SECRETARY WASHINGTON OF STATE By. August 28, 1952 SECRET SECURITY INFORIVATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS DISSOLUTION OF Following an extraordinary session of the JAPANESE DIET: Japanese Cabinet the Japanese Government has announced immediate dissolution of the Diet. Okazaki, Japanese Foreign Minister, explained to Ambassador Murphy that the action was taken under Article 7 of the Constitution and that the House of Representatives had been dissolved because it had become obvious that with election fever gripping membership of the Diet, prolongation of the session would be futile and even harm- ful. He said it was obvious that the opposition parties would not be able to carry a no-confidence vote as the Liberal Party had absolute majority in the House. Therefore, the procedure adopted was the only one feasible. He intimated that the surprise move provided tactical advantages for the Liberal Party. According to Okazaki, the Government will not resign but will remain in office until after the elections when Yoshida, Japanese Prime Minister, will present his resignation to the Emperor. The program for the interval, he said, is that the Liberal Party will hold a caucus on September 1 and announce its party platform September 5. On that date, the Yoshida Cabinet will advise the Emperor to proclaim general elections of members of the Diet which under law must be held within twenty-five days. Thus elections will be held October 1. Okazaki voiced optimism regarding the outcome of the elections. IRAN: As from August 27, Bank Melli of Iran has discontinued the sale of government-owned dollars heretofore sold at seventy-five rials per dollar for Category One imports. Nasser, Vice Governor of the Bank, stated the decision to suspend sales was taken because only a little over one million such dollars was left and it was preferred to hold these in reserve. Merchants expect the measure to precipitate a sharp rise in prices of imported goods and of free dollar exchange although this trend may be offset by persistent bazaar rumors of impending US financial aid. SOVIET NOTE Embassy Paris has reported French Foreign ON GERMANY: Office views on the latest Soviet note. The note indicates to the French that the Russians are resigned to ratification of the EDC and the contractuals and that they were SECRET SECURITY INEORMATION