MACARTHUR’S POSITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26040, 2 January 1946, Page 5

MACARTHUR’S POSITION

AUTHORITY NOT HAMPERED WASHINGTON. B (Rec. 1 a.m.) Dec. 31. ' Mr James Byrnes, at a press conference, said he went to Moscow with the ♦ impression that General MacArthuur believed the American plan for control machinery for • Japan was workable,, but he did not keep General MacArthur advised of the developments regarding Japan during the “Big Three” conference because he did not expect he had to do so. •, Mr Byrnes said he had always been concerned with the preservation of General MacArthur’s administrative' : • authority and firmly believed that objective was achieved by the Moscow agreement. The United States plain was submitted to the War Department last October, which then forwarded the plan to General MacArthur. Tlje plan was revised somewhat at General MacArthur’s suggestion to provide greater assurances that General MacArthur’s administrative authority would not be hampered. Mr Byrnes said he gained the impression from the chairman of the Far. East Allied Council, Major-general McCloy, that General MacArthur considered the plan was workable, although that did not mean that General , MacArthur liked it. General MacArthur, as Supreme Commander, properly had no voice in forming United States policy towards Japan, but instead was the policy’s administrator. Sources close to General reported that the “ Big Three ” control plan for Japan has already caused confusion among the Japanese, and may cause General MacArthur to lose face in a country where “ face ” is all important. The conti’ol plan may result in a slackening of Japanese efforts to put into effect the directives already issued and accepted slowly and grudgingly.