Tsuneo Matsudaira

Tsuneo Matsudaira (1877–1949), a son of former Aizu lord Matsudaira Katamori, graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1902 and entered the Foreign Ministry. He served as consul general in Tianjin, headed the European and American Affairs Bureau, and became vice foreign minister before holding the Washington and London embassies. ¹

Naval limitation occupied Matsudaira in both capitals. In March 1927, Under Secretary Joseph Grew consulted him about proceeding with American, British, and Japanese talks at Geneva despite France’s and Italy’s refusal to participate. Matsudaira undertook to obtain Tokyo’s answer and asked whether the absent powers might reconsider. Later, as ambassador in London, he served on Japan’s delegation to the 1930 naval conference and assisted chief delegate Reijirō Wakatsuki in reaching the agreement on auxiliary warships. ^{1, 2}

Matsudaira left the diplomatic service in 1936 to become imperial household minister. He resigned in June 1945 after American bombing damaged the palace, then served on the Privy Council. Elected to the House of Councillors in 1947, he became its first president and died in office in November 1949. ¹