Over the next couple of weeks I began to wonder if the scenario wasn't
going a little too smoothly. Everything about Noda's setup seemed
surprisingly pat. The answers came too easily. Was it all really what
it seemed?
I should also add that in the fortnight since Tarn's first contact with
America's shell-shocked industrialists, the situation had not gone
unnoticed in Washington. Tuesday of the second week Jack O'Donnell
called and left a message downtown with Emma, asking if I could arrange
a meeting for him with the elusive Matsuo Noda. Although I'd tried to
keep Jack informed as to developments, he still wanted to confront
America's New Age maker face-to-face.
"Walton," he said when I got back to him, "I just heard your guy's too
'busy' to meet the press, but maybe he'd chat with a close, longtime
friend of his American attorney. That's me, in case you don't recognize
the description. Why not try and get me in to see him?"
"You're dreaming, Jack." I told him that a U.S. senator was about the
last person Matsuo Noda would be interested in meeting just now. "Don't
hold your breath, but I'll bring it up and see what he says."
And what do you know! Noda declared that nothing would please him more.
Naturally there had to be a few ground rules about confidentiality--this
was after all a delicate corporate situation--but otherwise he'd be
delighted to chat. You could have knocked me over with a feather.
Thus around two P.M. Thursday, Jack O'Donnell arrived at the new
twelfth-floor operation, ready to get the truth or by God know the
reason why. After he made his way past our Uzi- outfitted reception, I
brought him on through the floor and introduced him to Dr. Richardson.
Jack knew of her writings
and hit the ground running, asking who, why, when, where, etc., but
before he could get any real answers, Noda appeared and took over.
O'Donnell confided later that his first impression of Matsuo Noda
matched perfectly my description of the man--every bit central casting's
image of the in-charge Japanese honcho. After the usual routine
pleasantries, Jack said he'd like to record their talk. Noda politely
demurred, saying recording instruments stifled his spontaneity, then
proceeded to laud Jack's own articles and speeches urging American
industry to get its house in order. Senator Jack O'Donnell, he
declared, was a visionary American statesman.
Jack accepted this praise warily, then asked if he could maybe have a
peek at the computer operation on the floor below, the analytical
armory I'd told him about. Again Noda begged off, claiming he'd be
honored to guide the esteemed senator's tour personally, but surely
they'd both prefer to postpone that until such time as they had the
leisure to review the operation in detail.
Jack sensed, and I did too, that he was getting a polite runaround, so
he decided to get down to business. He clicked open his briefcase and
took out a notebook.
"Mr. Noda," he began, "there's been considerable speculation in
Washington this past couple of weeks regarding the specific intent of
Japan's sudden heavy involvement in America's high-tech sector. My
subcommittee has monitored foreign investment here for a number of
years, and frankly I've never seen anything remotely like what's now
underway. I'd appreciate an informal briefing, unless you wish to open
the regrettable possibility of a formal subpoena to appear before our
subcommittee."
Whereupon Jack received the first whoosh of what soon blossomed into a
roomful of aerosol bullshit. Noda started with some malarkey about the
great tradition of economic cooperation between our peoples, advanced
to balderdash about Japan's desire to share her resources with the
world's less fortunate, then outdid himself with triple-distilled
crapola about the timeless trust and regard his country's ordinary
citizens cherished in their hearts for our Christian nation (which had
merely torch-bombed and nuked them a few decades past). Worst of all,
Jack had to sit there and listen. I've never seen the guy so
uncomfortable.
Clearly Noda intended to give him pure _tatemae _- soothing
generalities that added up to zip. The man was, by God, going to do
exactly what he wanted, all of which was perfectly legal, so he didn't
really see any point in drawing a picture for the U.S. Senate.
Finally Jack just closed his notebook. "Let me put this differently. I
understand that your objectives are not merely acquisition, but also an
attempt to rejuvenate U.S. business. Beginning, I take it, with the
lackluster segments of our high-tech sector?"
"We hope to offer suggestions from time to time that may prove
helpful." Noda just sat there like a sphinx. "Perhaps I can offer an
example. As you doubtless know, Senator, Japanese firms build plants
overseas these days primarily to be more competitive in those foreign
markets. You Americans, however, are moving your manufacturing abroad
now mainly to compete with foreign goods here it home in your own
market. You appear to think it as comparable, but of course it is not.
What you are doing is exporting your own jobs. Your strategy is
defensive, ours is offensive."
Jack looked him squarely in the eye. "Quite frankly I must tell you
that not everyone in Washington these days trusts Japan's 'offensive'
in international trade. I for one would be very interested in knowing
exactly why Japan has chosen to invest billions of dollars in keeping
America's manufacturing alive. Particularly when so much of it is
competitive with your own."
"Yes, Senator, I realize you Americans prize frankness." He wasn't
giving an inch. "Very well. Quite honestly, no one in Japan believes it
is in the interest of the Free World to allow your industrial base to
continue its current decline. Our economic condition is linked to
yours, like the vital organs of Siamese twins. We cannot afford to let
you atrophy. For one thing, you are our only defense shield, since we
have none of our own. I might also add, though it is a comparatively
lesser concern, you are Japan's primary customer."
"So what you're proposing--if you'll permit me to paraphrase--is to take
certain of our strategic industries, the ones in trouble, by the neck
and institute the management, investment, and research necessary to
keep them competitive."