America From Abroad : Dear Mr. President

Foreign policy may have played second fiddle--or second saxophone--to domestic problems in the U.S. presidential campaign that culminates today. But in fact, whether it turns out to be President Bush, President Clinton or President Perot, the man who occupies the White House for the next four years will spend a lot of that time coping with global issues.

What kind of advice is the winner likely to hear from the men and women who are paid to be America’s eyes and ears in foreign capitals?

World Report asked Times correspondents in Berlin, Brussels, Jerusalem, Johannesburg, London, Mexico City, Moscow, Toronto and Tokyo to step into the shoes of the political secretaries of the American embassies in those cities and offer some tips in a memo to the new President . . .

TOKYO

‘It’s time to stop treating Japan like “the kid” . . .’

The advice from here is simple: Don’t forget about Japan.

Sure, the thrills and chills of diplomacy may be greater in Russia or the Middle East. But Japan is the second-largest economy in the world. Together our two countries kick out 40% of global economic output. When we sneeze, the world catches not a cold, but bronchitis. And our mutual security pact is the tie keeping the Asian-Pacific region from splintering and accelerating an already worrisome arms race.

That’s why everybody’s been yammering about a new “global partnership.”

But the sad fact, Mr. President, is that Washington still treats Tokyo the way big brother Wally did Beaver on the old “Leave It to Beaver” TV show--as “the kid.” When he remembers he’s around at all, that is.

Can you imagine how mortified Japan was last year when a Tokyo summit was abruptly postponed--and the U.S. press found out before Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa? Or this year, when news of the sale of F-16s to Taiwan was conveyed from a low-level bureaucrat in Washington to a low-level counterpart in Tokyo? That’s hardly the kind of “high-level consultations” expected from the global partnership pact penned this year.

Well, the Beaver grew up and so has Japan. Washington can’t boss Tokyo around anymore and shouldn’t try. You’ll see the Japanese increasingly chart a more independent course, albeit cautiously. You’ll see it in China, for instance, where Japan will continue as the largest aid donor and show more willingness to treat human rights problems there as an internal issue. Tokyo’s political maturity should be encouraged.

On security, the Soviet Union’s demise punched a hole in our rationale for the U.S. military umbrella here. People justify it now by saying it’s cheaper to station troops in Japan than in San Diego, since Tokyo pays 75% of all costs, not including salaries. Or they say a power vacuum would kick off even greater military buildups in the sensitive region.

But detractors doubt how much America itself really still benefits from the role of regional cop. It’s clear a more cogent rationale must be found.

When it comes to economics, however, U.S. interests are clear. During the Cold War, Washington constantly gave Tokyo a break on economic issues in exchange for security cooperation, but that era is over. Do all you can to support Americans who want to do business in the world’s second-largest consumer market. Fight the trade barriers, make a stink when necessary, arm your commercial sections with people who know something about Japan.

The classic cliche about the U.S.-Japan relationship is former Ambassador Mike Mansfield’s gem: “The most important bilateral relationship, bar none.” Maybe you’ll be the first President to act as if you believe it.