Japan Has Fulfilled Its Obligations Under The Potsdam Agreement, Says Macarthur

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 May 1949, Page 5

Japan Has Fulfilled Its Obligations Under The Potsdam Agreement, Says Macarthur

TOKIO, May 2 (Ree. 8 pm).General MacArthur told the Japanese people today that as far as they were concerned the occupation of Japan no longer was necessary. “The Allied purpose enunciated at Potsdam in many essential respects lias been fulfilled,'’ said a S.CA.P. in a message on the second anniversary of Japan's democratic constitution tomorrow. “You have worked diligently and faithfully to discharge

| your surrender commitments. (That tlie Allied forces still occupy your native soil is by no means due to a fault of yours, but rather to events and circumstances else- | where beyond your capacity to I influence or control.” I S.C.A.P. said the character of .the occupation had gradually changed from the stern rigidity of a military operation to the friendly guidance of a protective force.

[ The message added it was I General MacArthur's purpose to speed this transition as rapidly as the Japanese were able to as-j-uii.e the attending responsibility. I MacArthur. in conclusion, I urged the Japanese to co-operate 1 by unrclaxed vigilance against; concepts incredulous of human' wisdom and prejudicial to per-: sonal dignity and suppressive oft j individual liberty.—Reuter. |