CONTROL OF JAPAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 215, 11 September 1945, Page 5

CONTROL OF JAPAN

.MACARTHUR’S ORDERS RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE, RIGHTS AND PROPERTY

Reed. 8. 45 p.m. Tokio, Sept. 10 The text of General MacArthur’s policy announcement stated that the .Supreme Commander is at present controlling the Japanese Government along the following lines: (1> The instrument of surrender is being enforced. <2; (a) The Supreme Commander will issue all necessary instruction., to the Japanese Emperor, or Imperial Government, and every opportunity will be given the Government and people to carry out such instructions, without further compulsion. If necessary, however, the Supreme Commander will issue appropriate orders to the Army and corps commanders indicating what action will be taken to secure obedience by the Imperial Government agencies within the areas of their commands. In other words, the occupation forces will act principally as an agency on which the Supreme Commander may call, if necessary, to secure compliance with the instructions to the Government: (b) the existing Japanese economy will be controlled only to the extent necessary to achieve the United Nations objectives; <c> the civilian population will be treated by the occupying forces in such a way as to develop respect for, and confidence in, the United Nations and their representatives, 'and encourage co-opera-tion. In the accomplishment ot the desired objectives they will be required to obey all laws, proclamations, orders and regulations issued by the Japanese Government pursuant to the Supreme Commander’s directives. They will be completely free from alt unwarranted interference with individual liberty and property rights.

(3) Among the United Nations’ postwar objectives are: (a) the abolition of militarism and militant nationalism in Japan; (b) the encouragement, subject to the encessity for maintaining military security, of liberal tendencies and processes, such as freedom of religion, Press, speech and assembly; (c) Ihe creation of conditions which will ensure that Japan will not again become a menace to the world’s peace and security, and which vili permit the eventual emergence of a government which will respect the rights of other nations and Japan’s iniernational obligations.