MCARTHUR'S METHODS QUESTIONED BY ALLIES

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 269, 14 November 1945, Page 5

MCARTHUR'S METHODS QUESTIONED BY ALLIES

Too Dependent on Japanese

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.

General MacArthur’s administration in Japan is being called into serious question by a spokesman for the other Governments on the Far East Advisory Commission, some of whom fear that the present military administration of Japan may be laying the groundwork for a resurgence of Nipponese power a decade hence, reports a North America Newspaper Alliance correspondent. A proposal has been advanced in the secret sessions of the Commission that an Allied investigatory group visit Japan to check on the extent to which the general directives by President Truman and the State Department are being carried out. Delegates from other Pacific nations have received disturbing reports that the Zaibatsu group have been removed from their positions in name only, that the same teachers and imperialistic and religious teachings similar to those which have kept the Japanese mind in thraldom are continuing, and that too much is left to the Japanese Government's discretion and good faith in carrying out General Mac Arthur's orders. Natural Leanings There has been no question of General Mac Arthur’s good faith or capabilities as a military commander, but the fear is being expressed around the Commission table—where Russia is notably absent—that General MacArthur’s natural leanings favour the restoration of powerful Conservative civilians against any rise of Democracy fostered by the farmer-worker groups. The predominant interests of tho United States in Japan and the American right to make final decisions are now recognised without serious protest by the nine other Powers, despite a I misunderstanding developing out of tho London conference in which the representatives of Britain, Australia and other nations thought they had a gentlemen’s agreement with the United States Secretary of State (Mr. Byrnes) to make the Commission’s policy de- ; cisions binding on a majority vote unless three of the four major Pacific Powers—China, America, Russia and Britain —exercised a joint veto. It developed that, when Mr. Byrnes held the conversations which the other Powers • thought were assurances, a representative read a document embodying this ! gentlemen’s agreement reported to : have been drafted by the AssistantSecretary of State (Mr. James Difnn) and a British Foreign Office representative. When the Commission gathered in Washington, the United States State Department pointed out, accord ing to the representatives of the othei nations, that President Truman had already announced that the American word in Japan would be final and this e decision would not be reversed.

There was no real disposition to dispute the Commission’s advisory status except by Russia, but despite the Commission’s advisory status members are encouraged by the prospect of its becoming an influential force in the longterm policy for Japan. They analyse General MacArthur’s orders based on the directives issued to him. Although some suggestions may be submitted by President Truman and Mr. Byrnes for changes in these directives—one favoured by China and Australia would remove Hirohito from tho Throne—the chief concern of the other Powers is in making the directives effective. Some cannot understand why, with pressure heavy to bring American troops home, Chinese and Australians have not been accepted as occupation troops under General MacArthur’s command. A highly significant symptom of tho attitude of the American occupation leaders is seen in reports that the property of the multi-millionaire Japanese trusts was not seized as was that of the bankers of the Nazi military machine; instead, tho Zaibatsu group were bought off in Government bonds. Foreign leaders say this leaves the “behind-the-scenes boys’’ in Tokio as wealthy as before and in a position to move back into power when the occupation ends.

One member predicts that the Far East Advisory Commission will vote to send an investigatory group to Japan in about three weeks.