WEAPONS OF WAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 139, 24 March 1948, Page 5

WEAPONS OF WAR

PROHIBITION IN JAPAN (Rec. 10.30)'WASHINGTON, Mar. 23. The Far Eastern Commission to-day unanimously approved of a plan to prohibit future military activity in Japan. Arms, ammunition and implements of war will be forbidden except small arms for police and registered hunting weapons. A directive, based on the commission’s decision, has been sent to General Mac Arthur. Under the new policy, all military and semi-military organisations which were used for propaganda and ultranationalism will be prohibited. Measures will also be adopted to prevent a revival of the Japanese Army, Navy, gendarmerie and secret police. The manufacture of aircraft of all kinds will be banned, also the construction of naval combat or auxiliary vessels, the conversion of any commercial vessel, for military purposes and the reconstruction of cargoships for possible military use.. . All records of personnel demobilised by the army, navy and air force will be confiscated and handed to General MacArthur for destruction. The commission plans to prevent tno re-establishment of the war and navy ministries, the Imperial High Command, the supreme military council and all other military groups, Including military academies, schools, military scientific research institutions and laboratories.