Formation of the Tanaka government and the Takeiri Memo – first approaches to China

This chapter discusses how the newly formed Tanaka government immediately began work on normalizing relations with China and how the role of middleman between the two governments was played by Japanese politicians who did not belong to the government party. Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai used meetings with these men to convey to Tanaka that the Chinese government would be willing to adopt conciliatory positions on issues such as wartime compensation to facilitate an official Japanese visit. Moreover, the chapter describes the relationship between Tanaka and Ōhira as prime minister and foreign minister and Ōhira’s initial efforts within the foreign ministry to prepare for normalizing relations with China.