OCCUPATION OF JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25878, 10 August 1949, Page 7

OCCUPATION OF JAPAN

“ CHARACTER GREATLY CHANGED”

MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR GOVERNMENT

(Rec. 11 p.m.) TOKYO, Augusr 9. General MacArthur has officially notified the United States and British forces under his command that the character of the occupation of Japan had greatly chanced from the “stern rigidity of the military occupation to the friendly guidance of % protective force.”

In future the occupation forces would hasten the assumption by the Japanese Government of increasing responsibility for the administration of its own affairs, he said. The necessity for extensive surveillance of the many social, cultural and economic developments no longer existed. Japan was fully, demilitarised and the social and political reformation was sufficiently advanced for the Japanese Government to assume an increasing responsibility. The occupation personnel would be friendly towards the Japanese in a manner reflective of democratic ideals. They would avoid any interference with the Japanese Government’s performance of its functions or anything indicative of military coercion. Observers believe that General MacArthur. will do his utmost with United States economic -aid to make Japan self-supporting as Speedily as possible. This would combat Communist exploitation of any economic hardships, unemployment or labour unrest. General MacArthur hopes to make Japan self-supporting within three years. By the end of 1949 most administrative responsibility will have been turned over to the Japanese,