LONG OCCUPATION OF JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24814, 2 March 1946, Page 7

LONG OCCUPATION OF JAPAN

ADVOCACY BY SIR CARL BERENDSEN WASHINGTON, February 2». The New Zealand Minister in Wash* ington (Sir Carl Berendspn), in a speech at an overseas writers’ luncheon, said that 20 years was the'minimum period in which Japan could reasonably be expected to resume her place among the peace-loving nation*. He emphasised that it was important for the Allies to announce now a lengthy occupation in order to protect the moderate Japanese elements, who feared to come forward because of inevitable retaliation if Allied control were suddenly withdrawn. - He declared that the Supreme Command, under General MacArthur, had made a magnificent beginning, bin he criticised the decision to hula an election in April. This was far too soon, because the old Rightist parties were well organised and entrenched, while the Leftist parties, including the Cooperatives and National Democrats, which had beeq proscribed during the war. epuld not possibly wane an effective electoral campaign before the election. t -Ha said that the calorific content of the average Japanese diet was not higher than before the war or duri ß B the war. AH classes were spending practically worthless yen on black market foodstuffs. However, that was expected to deplete all the existing stocks in two or three months, when heavy imports would be necessary to prevent hunger. He sympathised with the occupation authorities’ desire to alleviate the situation, but said he thought it would be highly unjust for the Japanese to be fed while their victims were still starving.