UNITED STATES POLICY IN POST-WAR JAPAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 226, 24 September 1945, Page 5

UNITED STATES POLICY IN POST-WAR JAPAN

TWO MAIN OBJECTIVES DESTRUCTION OF MENACE, AND THE RESTORATION OF FREEDOM R-. cd. 7.30 p.m. Washington, Sept. 22. The White House has released a statement avhith has been sent to General MacArthur on the United States initial post-sur-render policy for Japan. The statement lists as the ultimate objectives—(l) To ensure that Japan will not again menace the United States or world peace. (2) The eventual establishment of a peaceful and responsible Government which will respect the rights of other States and support the objectives of the United States, as reflected in the Charter of the United Nations organisation. The United States desires that this Government should conform, as closely as may be, to the principles of democratic self-government, but it is not the responsibility of the Allied Powers to impose any form of government not supported by the freely-expressed will of the people.

“These objectives will be achieved by the following principal means," lavs the statement: ••<!> Japan's sovereignty will be limited to Honshu. Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku and other such minor outlying islands as are determined in accordance with the Cairo declara tion and other agreements. “(2) Japan will be completely disarmed and demilitnrsed. The authority of militarists and the influence or militarism will be totally eliminated. Institutions expressive of a spirit of militarism will be vigorously suppressed. , . „ V "(3) The Japanese people shall be encouraged to develop a desire for all individual liberties, and respect for fundamental human r.ghts. particularly the freedom of religion, assembly, speech and Press. They shall also encourage a form of democratic representative organisations. “(4) The people shall be afforded opportunity to develop for themselves an economy for the peacetime requirements of the ponulation.” Regarding Allied authority, it is Btated: “Firstly, there will be military occupation of the home islands, to carry out the surrender terms, and the objectives of the occupation shall have the character of an operation on behalf of the principal Allied Poxvers acting in the interests of the United Nations at war with Japan. Therefore, participation, of forces of other nations which have taker a leading part in the war against Japan will be welcomed. The occupation forces will be under the command of a suoreme commander designated by the United States. Every effort will be made by the consultation and constitution of appropriate advisory bodies, to establish policies satisfactory to the principal Allied Powers, but in the event of differences of opinion among them, the United States policies will govern.

“Secondly, the authority of the Emperor and the Government will be subject to the Supreme Commander. In view of the present character of Japanese society and the United States’ desire to attain the objectives with a minimum of commitment of its forces and resources, the Supreme Commander will exercise authority through the Japanese governmental machinery and agencies, including the Emperor. The Japanese Government will be permitted, under instructions, to exercise normal powers of government in matters of domestic admnistration, but this policy will be subject to a right of duty of the Supreme Commander to require changes in governmental machinery, or personnel, or to act directly if the Emperor or other Japanese authority does not satisfactorily meet requirements.”

Moreover, this policy dees not commit the supreme commander to support the Emperor, or any other Japanese governmental authority in opposition to the evolutionary changes towards the attainment of United States’ objectives. The policy is to use the existing form of Government, not support it. Changes initiated by the people, or Government, modify in. its feudal and authoritarian tendencies are to be permitted and favoured.

“If the effectuation of such changes involves the use of force by the people or the Government against persons opposed to them the supreme commander should intervene only where necessary to ensure the security of his forces, and the attainment of all other objectives of the occupation,” says the statement. Regarding publicity, the statement says: “The Japanese people and the world shall be kept fully informed of the objectives and the policies of occupation and the progress made.” WAR CRIMINALS. On war criminals, it is stated that persons charged by the supreme commander, or United Nations’ agencies, with being war criminals, including those charged with cruelties upon United Nations’ prisoners or other nationals, shall be arrested, tried and, if convicted, punished. Those wanted by another of the United Nr.’.irns tor offences against its nationals, shall, unless wanted by the supreme commander, be given to the custodv of such other nation. On,encouraging a desire for individual liberties and democratic processes, the statement says:

“Freedom of religious worship shah be proclaimed promptly on occupation, but it should be made plain to Japanese ultra-nationalistic and mi. { - taristic organisations and movemenu that they will not be permitted to hide behind religion. The people shall be afforded opportunity and also cn couraged to become familiar with u-, • history, institution, culture and accomplishments of the United States and other democracies. Fraternising should be controlled. Democratic political parties shall be encouraged, subject to the necessity of maintaining security.

“Disarmament and demilitarisation art primary tasks for the military oc Wpation and shall be carried e■* promptly and determinedly. Every effort shall be made to bring home to the Japanese the part played by their military and naval, leaders, and also collaborators in bringing*about the existing and future distress.” Japan will not have an army, navy or air force, secret police, or civil aviation. High officials of Japanese Imperial Headquarters and the general staff and other high military and naval officials, leaders of ullranalionalist and militarist organisatio' s and other important exponents of militarism and aggression will -,e taken into custody and held for future disposition.

“Persons who have been active exponents of militarism and m’.’.taiu nationalism will be removed and • xcludcd from public office, and any other position of public, or substantia) private responsibility,’’ says the statement. “Ultranationalistic or militaristic, social, political, professional

and commercial societies and institutions will be dissolved and prohibited. Militarism and ultranationalism, in doctrine and practice, including military training, shall be eliminated from the educational system. Military and naval officers, commissioned or norf-commissioned, shall be excluded from supervisory and teaching positions. Laws, decrees and regulations which establish discrimination on the grounds of race, nationality, creed or political opinion, shall be abrogated. Those wnich conflict with the objectives and policies outlined in this document shall be repealed, suspended or amended, as required. Agencies charged specifically with the enforcement snail be abolished or appropriately modified. Persons unjustly confined oy Japanese authority on political grounds shall be released. “The judicial, legal and police systems shall be performed as soon as practicable, to conform with the policies set forth and shall thereafter progressively be influenced to protect individual liberties and civil rights.” Regarding economic demilitarisa-tion,-the statement says: “The existing economic basis of Japanese military strength must be destroyed and not permitted to revive. Therefore, a programme will be enforced containing the following elements: Immediate cessation and future prohibition of the production of all goods designed for the equipment, maintenance, or use of any military force or establishment; the imposition of a plan on any specialised facilities for production or repair of any implement of war, including naval vessels and all forms of aircraft; the institution of a system of inspection and control over selected elements of Japanese economic activity to prevent concealed, or disguised military preparation; the elimination of those selected, industries, or branches of production, whose chief

the prohibition of specialised research institutions directed to the development of war making power; limitation of the size and character of Japan’s heavy industries to its future peaceful requirements, and the restriction of Japanese merchant shipping to an extent required to accomplish the objectives of demilitarisation. “The eventual disposition of those existing production facilities within Japan which are to be eliminated will be determined after an inventory. Pending a decision facilities readily convertible into civilian production should not bp destroyed except in emergency situations. DEMOCRATIC FORCES. Discussing promotion of democratic forces, tne statement says; ".encouragement snail oe g-ven and labour siiown to the development ot organisations in labour, maustry, ana agriculture organised on a democratic basis. Policies shall ce lavoureci whicn permit a wide distribut.on oi income ana ownersnip oi tne means iot proauction and trade. The occupation authorities shall favour those forms of economic activity, organisation and leadership deemed finely to strengthen the peaceful disposition q-1 the people and to make it difficult to command, or direct, economic activity in support of military ends. To this end it shall be the Supreme Commander’s policy, firstly, to prohibit the retention in, or selection lor, places oi importance in the economic I neid of individuals who do not direct i the future of tne Japanese economic i effort solely towards peaceful ends." . Secondly, to favour a programme for I dissolution ot large industrial and canking combinations which have exercised control of a great part of Japan’s trade and industry.” Regarding the resumption of peaceful economic activity, the statement says: “Japan’s policies have brought on the people great economic destruction and confronted them with the prospect of economic difficulty and suffering. Japan’s plight is a direct outcome of its own behaviour, and the Allies will not undertake the burden of repairing the damage. It can ue repaired only if the Japanese renounce all military aims and apply themselves diligently, with a single purpose, to peaceful liv.ng. It will be necessary for them to undertake physical reconstruction, deeply to reform the nature and direction of their economic activities, and institutions, and find useful employment for the people along lines adapted and devoted to peace. The Allies have no intention of imposing conditions which would prevent the accomplishment of these tasks.

“In due time, Japan will be expected to provide goods and services to meet rhe neeus of the occupying forces to an extent that this can be effected without caus ng starvation, widespread disease and acute physical distress. “Japanese authorities will expect, and it necessary, direct, maintain, develop and enforce programmes that serve the following purposes:

“Firstly, to avoid acute economic distress; secondly, to assure a just and impartial distribution of available supplies; thirdly, to meet requirements for the preparation and deliveries agreed upon by the Allies; fourthly, to facilitate the restoration of Japanese economy so that reasonable* peaceful requirements can be satisfied. “The Japanese authorities, on their own responsibility, shall be permitted to establish and administer controls over economic activities, including essential national public services, finance. banking, production and distribution of essential commodities, subject to approval and review by the supreme commander in order to assure conformity with the objectives of occupation.

REPARATIONS SHALL BE MADE. “Reparations shall be made, firstly, through the transfer —as may be determined by the appropriate Allied authorities—of Japanese property located outside of territories to be retained by Japan; secondly, through the transfer of such goods as existing capital equipment and facilities as are hot. necessary for peaceful economy, or by

supplying the occupation forces. “Exports, other than those directed to be shipped on reparation accotfnt or as restitution may be made only to those recipients who agree to provide the necessary imports in exchange, or agree to pay for such exports in foreign exchange. No form of reparation shall be exacted which will interfere with, or prejudice, the programme for Japan’s demilitarisation. Full and prompt restitution will be required of all identifiable looted property.”

Regarding fiscal, monetary and banking policies, the statement says: “The Japanese authorities will remain responsible for the management and direction of the domestic fiscal, monetary and credit policies, subject to the approval ond review by the supreme commander. Japan shall be permitted eventually to resume normal trade relations with the rest of the world. During the occupation and under suitable controls, Japan will be permitted to purchase from foreign countries raw materials and other goods that it may need for peaceful purposes, and to export goods io pay for approved imports. Control is to be maintained over all imports, exports, foreign exchange and financial transactions. Both policies, followed in exercise oi these controls and actual administration, shall be subject to supervision by the supreme commander in order to make sure they are not contrary to the policies of the occupying authorities, and particularly that all foreign nurchasinp power Japan may acquire is used only for essential needs.

“Existing Japanese external assets, and existing Japanese assets located in territories detached from Japan under the surrender terms, including assets owned wholely or partly, by the Imperial Household and Government shall be revealed to the occupying authorities and held for disposition according to the Allier’ decision. The Japanese authorities shall not give, or permit, any Japanese organisation to give exclusive or preferential opportunity, or terms, to the enterprise of any foreign country, or cede 1o such enterprise the control of any important branch of economic activity. Imperial Household property shall not be excepted from anv action necessary to carry out the objectives of the occupation. RUSSIANSARE FIRM Reed. 7.30 p.m. Tokio. Sept. 22. The Russian occupation forces are ruling the Sakhalin Islands with an iron hand, without any velvet glove, according to an Asahi story, quoting Sakhalin Police Inspector Ogura, who escaped Russian internment with other Japanese officials. Ogura declared that in one Sakhalin town virtually all the men were engaged on work on the p ; ers and all citizen ll must wear red badges. Each household has been ordered to flv a Red Hag. The Japanese are forbidden Io appear outside their homes in groups of ovtir e -, and must be indoors after G p.m. All newspapers were closed down and radios confiscated. The Japanese Governor General was taken into custody, whore none may see him. except officials wearing a badge of the new Sakhalin Government. The police chief and entire police personnel wore interned. The islands feci insecure about supplies of food and clothing on the eve of winter.