Occupation Forces In Japan

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25308, 7 October 1947, Page 6

Occupation Forces In Japan

The cablegram from Tokyo reporting the impending withdrawal of all United Kingdom forces from the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan recorded also the statement of the Commander-in-chief, Lieutenant-General Robertson, that he “would be most sur- " prised. if New Zealand did any- “ thing to reduce her forces ”. In this he did no more than voice official New Zealand policy so far as it is known. When Britain reduced her occupation forces in February the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones) declared that this merely made more important than before New Zealand’s share, with Australia, in the responsibilities of the occupation. As a general policy this attitude had, and still has, much to commend it. Nevertheless, Mr Jones’s comment, reported to-day, on the latest British decision raises doubts whether New Zealand has, in fact, any policy at all. "No consideration has been given to the “ question of the withdrawal of the “New Zealand forces from Japan”, was all Mr Jones would Say. Presumably the British withdrawal was decided upon only after the other countries concerned in the occupation had been consulted; and even if the New Zealand Government has been left in uneasy indecision the public should be given some account of the discussions and the considerations which led to the new division of responsibilities. This is the more necessary because there are strong reasons for believing that, considerations of prestige apart, the British Commonwealth does not usefully share in the occupation. As the work of demilitarising Japan and repatriating Japanese forces came to an end, the Americans steadily, reduced the size of their occupation forces, replacing them with a small but highly skilled intelligence ser-

vice staffed with personnel who speak the language, mui with the people, and in various ways keep a finger on the pulse of Japanese life. The British Commonwealth Occupation Force has been an efficient and well-disciplined police body; but for all the useful contacts it has had with the Japanese people it might just as well have done its work by correspondeiye. Mr Jones could have been understood if he had said, “ The question is being considered “ and an early statement will be “made”; but when he says the question has not been considered at alii he tells the people of New Zealand, in effect, that the Government has been taken by surprise, of that the British decision does not concern the Government, or that the Government does not think the people of New % Zealand is much concerned, one way or another. And they will not understand him* whichever he meant, or wait very patiently till he is ready to speak more directly to the purpose.