Vice Premier Teng: But you should also know that Fukuda would be voted for by the Soviet Union too.
Secretary Kissinger: This I frankly would not know.
Vice Premier Teng: Their relationship is growing closer day-by-day.
Secretary Kissinger: Between Fukuda and Shiina, or between the Japanese and Soviets?
Vice Premier Teng: No, between Fukuda and the Soviet Union.
Secretary Kissinger: This I was not aware of.
Vice Premier Teng: Would you vote for Ohira?
Secretary Kissinger: I, personally? Ohira personally is a good friend of mine. And we would be very content with Ohira. And we are certainly not supporting Fukuda.
Vice Premier Teng: So we would have similar opinions.
Secretary Kissinger: We have no difficulty at all with Ohira. He would support the policy we are familiar with.
Vice Premier Teng: That is so, and we also feel that one of the characteristics of Ohira is that what he says counts. And perhaps, in this respect, if he carries out a certain policy he might be even more firm than Tanaka.
Secretary Kissinger: Well, he is more experienced than Tanaka. In any event, we think that in all probability Ohira will be Prime Minister. And if for any reason he should not be, which we do not expect - - but it isn't certain where it could line up. My student [Nakasone] has not yet declared himself. He has his uses. But if there should be some other Prime Minister, you should know that the U.S. believes that the Japanese foreign policy is continuing, and we will encourage them to maintain the course they have begun, particularly regarding China.
Vice Premier Teng: Even if Fukuda should be Prime Minister, we don't think it would be of any great consequence. Perhaps there might be some twists and turns because in the development of events there are always difficulties.SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
