The United States had hoped in the 1950s that Japan would quickly build its defense capabilities and exercise the right of collective defense in exchange for U.S. military assistance, according to diplomatic documents declassified Wednesday.

The U.S. expressed that hope during 1953-1954 negotiations for the bilateral pact on Mutual Defense Assistance, or MDA, but Japan strongly objected, saying it wants to focus on economic reconstruction.

While Tokyo welcomed Washington's offer of military assistance, its officials argued adamantly that Japan wanted to build up the country's defense capability as moderately as possible, according to minutes of the talks, which began July 15, 1953, in Tokyo.

The minutes show the U.S. wanted Japan to quickly become a defense partner due to the Soviet threat.

John Foster Dulles, then U.S. secretary of state, told a U.S. House of Representatives meeting in May 1953 that Japan was the true target of the Soviets, and U.S. assistance would become irrelevant if Japan became part of the communist bloc.

The U.S. stance also reflected unstable factors in Asia, including the birth of the People's Republic of China and the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Japan now has one of the top defensive capabilities in Asia. The Self-Defense Forces have been providing logistic support to the U.S.-led antiterrorism operation in Afghanistan, and the government is preparing to send SDF units to Iraq to assist in U.S.-led reconstruction work.

However, under the government's interpretation of the war-renouncing Constitution, Japan cannot engage in collective defense, although that is a right guaranteed under international law.

In the MDA talks, U.S. negotiators argued that the concept of collective defense is outlined in the U.N. Charter and that the U.S. would provide military assistance to prompt Japan to exercise this right as a sovereign state.

To confirm its stance in writing, the U.S. presented six clauses to be included in the MDA pact that are also conditions for recipients of military aid under the U.S. 1951 Mutual Security Act.

The conditions for the recipient countries included carrying out military obligations, taking measures to increase defense capabilities and contributing to the enlargement and maintenance of the free world's defense.

The Japanese negotiators in turn argued that increasing their country's defense capability quickly and engaging in collective defense would require revisions to the Constitution and the government would face a strong attack in the Diet from opposition parties.

The Tokyo team also repeatedly asked that the agreement clearly indicate that Japan's economic stability is a premise to developing its defense capability because it has a "serious attachment" to the priority of economic stability.

While the U.S. appeared considerate about Japan's situation, its negotiators did not back down on the terms, citing "instructions from Washington." They managed to put such a reference in the pact, albeit conditionally.

The MDA accord signed in March 1954 said the two sides agreed to offer assistance as authorized by their respective governments, and that such assistance will be "subject to all of those terms, conditions and termination provisions of" the 1951 Mutual Security Act.

It also said the agreement will be followed by each government "in accordance with the constitutional provisions of the respective countries."