SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Material concerning his career in the State Department, especially Micronesian status negotiations; his work on human rights, refugees and humanitarian affairs; and his service in Thailand and the Philippines.

QUANTITY
2.4 linear feet (ca. 4,800 pages)

DONOR
James M. Wilson (accession number 83-35)

ACCESS
Open. Some items are temporarily restricted under terms of the donor's deed of gift, a copy of which is available on request, or under National Archives and Records Administration general restrictions (36 CFR 1256).

COPYRIGHT
James M. Wilson donated to the United States of America his copyrights to most of his writings included in this collection. An exception is the memoir of his work on human rights and humanitarian affairs in the State Department. Wilson has specifically retained the title and copyright to that document. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain.

Prepared by William H. McNitt, November 1985; Revised by Jennifer Sternaman, April 1995
[s:\bin\findaid\wilson, james - papers.doc]

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

James Morrison Wilson, Jr.

July 8, 1918 - Born, Mokanshan, China

1935-39 - A.B., Swarthmore College

1939 - Certificate, Geneva School of International Studies

1940 - M.A., Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

1941-46 - U.S. Army (Lt. Colonel)

1948 - LL.B., Harvard Law School

1948-52 - Staff Officer, Department of the Air Force

1953-55 - Defense Department Advisor, Paris and Bonn

1955-58 - Director, Office of Foreign Military Sales, Department of Defense

1958-61 - Assistant Coordinator, Foreign Assistance Program, State Department

1961 - Appointed Career Foreign Service Officer

1961-64 - Counselor for Economic Affairs, American Embassy, Madrid, Spain

1964-66 - U.S. Minister, Bangkok, Thailand

1966-70 - U.S. Minister, Manila, Philippines

1970-72 - Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific

1972-75 - U.S. Deputy Representative for Micronesian Status Negotiations

1975-77 - Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs, State Department

1977 - Retired from the Foreign Service

INTRODUCTION

The James M. Wilson papers mainly concern his career in the State Department, 1958‑77. The topics most completely documented are Micronesian status negotiations and State Department human rights and humanitarian affairs policies and activities.

Wilson joined the State Department on detail from the Department of Defense in 1958 to work on the foreign aid program. He became a foreign service officer in 1961 and served overseas in Spain, Thailand, and the Philippines before returning to Washington in 1970 as a Deputy Secretary of State.

In 1972 he was detailed to the White House as U.S. Deputy Representative for Micronesian Status Negotiations. These negotiations, which began in the mid‑1960's, involved possible changes in the political status of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Micronesia), the far-flung, sparsely populated collection of former Japanese-held islands which was administered by the United States, nominally on behalf of the United Nations, under a special strategic trust agreement concluded in 1947.

Wilson's role, as deputy to Ambassador Haydn Williams, was to attend most of the negotiating sessions, meet with Micronesian officials, and assist with the drafting of potential agreements. The question of the overall status of Micronesia was not resolved during Wilson's tenure, but separate negotiations with part of Micronesia known as the Northern Mariana Islands led to the signing of the Marianas Covenant on February 15, 1975. This agreement was designed to lead to eventual commonwealth status for the Marianas, similar to the relationship between the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The Wilson papers relate to both sets of Micronesian negotiations and include his presentations, notes, memoranda of conversations and working papers from various meetings he attended.

In 1975 Wilson assumed the newly created post of State Department Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs, handling departmental matters relating to human rights and refugees. Much of his initial work involved the Indochina refugee program. He also represented the United States at meetings of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, testified before Congress on human rights questions, and made numerous speeches. Small files of documents relating to all these aspects of his work are included in the collection. Also included is an unpublished memoir describing his activities.

The collection is also useful for examining certain aspects of Wilson's work in Thailand, 1964‑66, and the Philippines, 1966‑70. Mr. Wilson was the highest ranking U.S. official in these two countries for about one-third of his tenure, due to extended absences by the ambassadors or vacancies in that position. His correspondence reveals much about the personal and social life of a foreign service officer with occasional reference to his official duties. His speeches and remarks illustrate the public aspects of his work. No detailed records concerning the issues and crises handled by the embassy staff are included. Such materials apparently became part of his official records retained by the Department of State.

The Wilson papers also include small amounts of material from the two periods in which he worked on the foreign aid program (1958‑61 and 1972), his brief service as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific, and the early years of his career when he served in various capacities in the Defense Department.

Related Materials (November 1985)
Several White House Central Files categories contain related material. They include:

• CO 120 - Philippines
• CO 148 - Thailand
• FO 3-2- Foreign Aid
• HU - Human Rights
• ND 18-2 - Displaced Persons-Refugees
• ST 51 - Territories and Island (includes Micronesia)

Other materials concerning the status of Micronesia appear in the Congressional Relations Office files of Max Friedersdorf, Robert Wolthuis, and Vernon Loen and Charles Leppert. The Bentley Historical Library of The University of Michigan has numerous collections relating to the Philippines, including the papers of G. Mennen Williams who served as Ambassador to the Philippines during part of Mr. Wilson's tenure there.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Subject File, 1972-77.  (Boxes 1‑2, 0.6 linear feet)
Memoranda, testimony, meeting agendas and presentations, and occasional memoranda of conversations, press releases and clippings mainly concerning his work on Micronesian status negotiations, refugees from Indochina and elsewhere, and human rights questions. Included is Wilson's unpublished memoir of his service as State Department Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs. A small amount of material relates to his 1972 work on the foreign aid program.

Arranged alphabetically by subject

Correspondence File, 1952-77. (Boxes 2‑3, 0.6 linear feet)
Correspondence between Wilson and other foreign service officers, ambassadors, military personnel, and foreign officials and diplomats. Most of the correspondence is of a personal nature, relating to such topics as: embassy social affairs, exchange of gifts, contacts with old friends, and arrangements for speaking to various organizations. Frequent references to his official duties appear in the letters, however. The number of letters from the early and later years of his career is small, with relatively large files concerning his years as U.S. Minister to Thailand and the Philippines.

Arranged chronologically.

Speeches and Remarks File, 1959-76.  (Boxes 4‑5, 0.8 linear feet)
Drafts and reading copies of his speeches and remarks with occasional background information, programs, and correspondence. His earliest speeches almost all concern the foreign aid program. About half of the series dates from his service in Thailand and the Philippines. In these speeches he addressed such topics as the management of foreign affairs in overseas posts, U.S. policy in Southeast Asia, and U.S. political and economic relations with the two countries. After returning to the United States in 1970 he spoke to groups on the war in Indochina, the Nixon Doctrine in East Asia, Micronesian status negotiations, refugee policies, and human rights.

Arranged chronologically.

1986 Wilson Accretion, (1957) 1966-77. (Box 6, 0.4 linear feet)
Reports, memoranda, and correspondence transferred in April 1986 to the Ford Library from the U.S. Department of State. Wilson had stored these papers with the State Department because of their security classification. The accretion documents Wilson's work as U.S. Minister in Manila, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Deputy Representative for Micronesian Status Negotiation, and State Department Coordinator for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs. Issues documented in the material include U.S. - Philippines relations, Micronesian status negotiations, human rights, the Vietnam War, and general consular activities. Almost all the documents bear classification markings and researchers will need to make mandatory review requests to see the material (April 1995).

Arranged chronologically.

CONTAINER LIST

Box 1 - Subject File

• Foreign Aid
• Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs
  ‑ FY 1977 Budget Estimates
  ‑ Office Organizational and Personnel Matters
  ‑ Wilson's Memoir
• Human Rights
‑ General
‑ Linkage With Security Assistance
‑ Testimony Before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Foreign Assistance and Economic Policy, 12/4/75
• Micronesian Status Negotiations ‑ 10/72‑4/74

Box 2 - Subject File

• Micronesian Status Negotiations ‑ 5/74‑6/75
• Refugees ‑ General
• Refugees ‑ Indochina
• Wilson, James M. ‑ Biographical Information

Box 2 (Continued) - Correspondence File

• Correspondence ‑ 1952‑1967

Box 3 - Correspondence File

• Correspondence ‑ 1968‑1977

Box 4 - Speeches and Remarks File

• 1959/05/26 ‑ Conference on Foreign Affairs
• 1960/02/17 ‑ National Council of Churches of Christ
• 1960/04 ‑ Texas Speech Tour
• 1960/04/17 ‑ Associated Church Press
• 1960/10/11 ‑ Command and Staff College Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base
• 1961/04 ‑ Unidentified Speech
• 1961/04/26 ‑ Arkansas Womens' Clubs
• 1964/08/18 ‑ American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand
• 1965/01/04 ‑ Square and Compass Club, Bangkok
• 1965/01/27 ‑ Opening of Korat‑Nonghai Highway
• 1965/01/29 ‑ Dedication of the Military Research and Development Center
• 1965/01/29 ‑ U.S. Operations Mission Technicians
• 1965/02/05 ‑ Time News Tour of Asia
• 1965/03/14 ‑ Dedication of New Mitraparb Foundation School, Batun, Thailand
• 1965/04/27 ‑ American Womens' Club of Bangkok
• 1965/06/04 ‑ International School of Bangkok
• 1965/07/26 ‑ American Field Service Students
• 1965/09/17 ‑ U.S. Operations Mission Participants Ceremony
• 1965/09/21 ‑ Peace Corps Volunteers
• 1965/09/30 ‑ Presentation of Books to the Neurological Research Foundation
• 1965/11/10 ‑ Marine Corps Birthday Ball
• 1965/11/10 ‑ Presentation of Legion of Merit to General Sinchai
• 1966/01/27 ‑ Peace Corps Volunteers
• 1966/02/07 ‑ Square and Compass Club, Bangkok
• 1966/05/09 ‑ Peace Corps Volunteers
• 1966/05/16 ‑ 20th Anniversary of the U.S. Information Service Library
• 1966/06/15 ‑ American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand
• 1966/11/14 ‑ Opening of Good Food USA Exhibit, Manila
• 1967/02/14 ‑ Third Far East Symposium on Nutrition
• 1967/04/12 ‑ National War College
• 1967/05/05 ‑ Ground Breaking Pacific War Memorial, Corregidor
• 1967/07/11 ‑ Philippine Community Chest Campaign
• 1967/11/07 ‑ 636th Combat Support Group
• 1967/11/11 ‑ Marine Corps Birthday Ball
• 1967/11/20 ‑ Opening Session of Laurel‑Langley Discussions
• 1967/12/13 ‑ Voice of America Interview
• 1967/12/15 ‑ Distinguished Service Cross Award for Judge Julian Chua
• 1967/12/20 ‑ Awards Ceremony for U.S. Government Employees
• 1968/01/20 ‑ Turnover of Ships to the Philippine Navy
• 1968/01/29 ‑ Base Labor Negotiations
• 1968/03/21 ‑ Services for Otto Kaufmann
• 1968/04/17 ‑ Philippine Chamber of Industries
• 1968/05/04 ‑ American School Commencement, Makati, Philippines
• 1968/05/15 ‑ Mutual Defense Board of the Philippines Anniversary Meeting
• 1968/05/30 ‑ Memorial Day Service
• 1968/06/03 ‑ George Dewey High School Commencement, Subic Naval Base
• 1968/06/06 ‑ Turnover of Ships to the Philippine Navy
• 1968/06/11 ‑ Exchange of Notes on the Special Fund for Education
• 1968/08/12 ‑ Ceremony at Ruby Towers Site
• 1968/09/11 ‑ Orientation for New Arrivals
• 1969/02/14 ‑ Visiting Editors and Publishers
• 1969/02/15 ‑ Inauguration of the Pfizer Poultry Diagnostic Center, Philippines
• 1969/02/22 ‑ Scottish Rite Temple, Manila
• 1969/03/04 ‑ Peace Corps Volunteers
• 1969/03/04 ‑ Agency for International Development Returned Participants
• 1969/03/21 ‑ Subic Ship Repairs Facility
• 1969/04/12 ‑ Philippine Little League Closing Session
• 1969/04/26 ‑ Delivery of Helicopters to the Philippine Armed Forces
• 1969/04/28 ‑ U.S. Department of Agriculture
• 1969/04/29 ‑ Turnover of a Ship to the Philippine Navy

Box 5 - Speeches and Remarks File

• 1969/05/09 ‑ Opening of the Regional Public Affairs Officers Conference
• 1969/05/10 ‑ Philippine Department of the American Legion
• 1969/05/12 ‑ Mutual Defense Board of the Philippines Anniversary Meeting
• 1969/05/30 ‑ Memorial Day Ceremonies
• 1969/06/14 ‑ Flag Day Ceremonies
• 1969/07/21 ‑ Philippines ABS/CBN Television
• 1969/07/28 ‑ Ceremonies Marking the Signing of the Military Bases Collective Bargaining Agreement
• 1970/07/23 ‑ Departure from the Philippines Remarks
• 1970/09/14 ‑ National Interdepartmental Seminar
• 1970/10/21 ‑ Central Intelligence Agency Trainees
• 1970/11/06 ‑ Visiting Asian Journalists
• 1970/11/18 ‑ Southeast Asia Intensive Language Students
• 1970/11/30 ‑ Under Secretary's Breakfast Briefings for Selected Congressmen
• 1970/12/02 ‑ Nassau Club, Princeton NJ
• 1971/04/06 ‑ East Asia Municipal Planning Group
• 1971/04/13 ‑ Marine Corps Command Staff College
• 1971/04/21 ‑ Detroit Commission on Foreign Relations
• 1971/05/20 ‑ Walt Whitman High School
• 1971/06/10 ‑ Brookings Institution Conference for Business Executives on the Federal Government
• 1971/06/18 ‑ Republican Women's Conference
• 1973/01/08 ‑ Briefing for Businessmen's Group
• 1973/01/24 ‑ United Nations Visiting Mission
• 1973/04/12 ‑ American Society of International Law
• 1974/03/25 ‑ Congressional Staff
• 1975/05/19 ‑ Agency for International Development Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid
• 1975/06/12 ‑ Office of Refugees and Migration Affairs
• 1975/09/25 ‑ Cleveland World Affairs Council Executive Committee
• 1975/09/26 ‑ Cleveland World Affairs Council Student Conference
• 1975/10 ‑ United Nation High Commission on Refugees Executive Committee
• 1975/10/14 ‑ World Peace Through Law Conference
• 1975/11/17 ‑ International Council for European Migration
• 1975/12/17 ‑ State Department Open Forum Panel
• 1976/02/19 ‑ Foreign Service Institute Seminar
• 1976/03/16 ‑ Aerospace Industries Association
• 1976/04/09 ‑ American Immigration and Citizenship Conference
• 1976/04/22 ‑ American Society of International Law
• 1976/05/20 ‑ American Council for Nationalities Service
• 1976/06 ‑ Institute for International Policy
• 1976/07/14 ‑ National Conference of Catholic Bishops
• 1976/10/04 ‑ United National High Commission on Refugees Executive Committee
• 1976/12/09 ‑ Harvard Model United Nations

Box 6 - 1986 Wilson Accretion

• 1957 (report on U.S. overseas military bases) (1)-(2)
• 1966-67
• 1968
• 1969
• 1970-71
• 1/1972 - 5/1972
• 6/1972 - 12/1972
• 1973
• 1/1974 - 2/1974
• 3/1974 - 12/1974
• 1/1975 - 4/1975
• 5/1975 - 8/1975
• 9/1975 - 12/1975
• 1/1976 - 8/1976
• 9/1976 - 8/1977