JAPAN WILL DECIDE UNIAAC VOTE AT THE LAST MINUTE

UNCLAS TOKYO 004968 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR IO/MPR/SC - BRIAN HACKETT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AORC UN UNGA JA SUBJECT: JAPAN WILL DECIDE UNIAAC VOTE AT THE LAST MINUTE REF: STATE 146857 ¶1. This message contains an action request. Please see paragraph 3. ¶2. Embassy Tokyo Political Officer delivered reftel demarche October 22 to MOFA UN Planning and Administration Division Principal Deputy Director Kenichi Matsuda. Matsuda said that Japan would "carefully consider" Mr Walker's candidacy, but it was MOFA's custom to decide "at the last minute" when there is no Japanese candidate. The United States has been the only country to approach MOFA; Spain and Switzerland have lobbied for their candidates through their missions to the UN only. Matsuda asked if there was any significance to the fact that Mr. Walker's candidacy was announced so close to the election, noting that Spain put its candidate forward months in advance. ¶3. ACTION REQUEST: Please provide guidance, if any, on how Post should respond to Matsuda's question. SCHIEFFER