U.S. Abandons Surrender Terms For Japanese ?

Northern Advocate, 30 October 1948, Page 5

U.S. Abandons Surrender Terms For Japanese ?

LONDON, Fri. (11 a.m.). —Speaking in the House of Commons on the motion for the adjournment, Mr Harold Davies (Lab.) complained about the paucity of information about Japan. He said Japan’s trade appeared to be lopsided. She was exporting only 4 per cent of the commodities needed to pay for her imports, mainly from the United States. America appeared to have abandoned the surrender terms as far as Japan was concerned • and General MacArthur had called Japan a “bastion of democracy.”

Mr Davies added: “I should imagine, if he really believes Japan has become an impregnable citadel of democracy as a result of three and a half years of occupation, that somebody is doing some crooked thinking.” Mr Davies said the way in which the Western world appeared to be neglecting what was happening in Japan was not the way to build up a Japan which could be called a “bastion of democracy.” fact-finding Mr Davies urged the appointment of a fact-finding commission of Commoners to report on the matter.

The Foreign Under-Secretary (Mr Mayhew) said the Government stood by the terms of the surrender and of the Potsdam Treaty. Japan had been completely demilitarised and disarmed. There must be a level of industrial activity affording a reasonable standard of life for Japan and reparations to those who suffered from Japanese aggression.

“We have waited too long for the Japanese peace treaty but there is no sinister pall of silence,” he said. “Conclusion of the treaty is fully compatible with Japan’s healthy development along democratic lines.”