894.011/12–1246
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State
(Hilldring)
to the Secretary of SWNCC
confidential
Washington, December 16, 1946.
There is enclosed a draft directive prepared on the basis of a policy
decision62 unanimously approved at
the 37th meeting of the Far Eastern Commission on December 12, 1946,
under the provisions of paragraph II, A, 1, of its terms of
reference.
It is requested that the enclosed directive be forwarded to the Joint
Chiefs of Staff for transmission to General MacArthur for his guidance
in accordance with paragraph III, 1, of the terms of reference of the
Far Eastern Commission. It is assumed that if the Joint Chiefs of Staff
have any question regarding the draft directive they will refer the
matter to the State Department for clarification before transmitting a
directive on the subject.63
[Annex]
Draft Directive for General of the Army Douglas
MacArthur Regarding Issuance of the Policy Decision on Review of
the Japanese Constitution
The following directive, prepared by the State Department to
implement the policy adopted by the Far Eastern Commission on 6 [12?] December 1946 under the provisions of
Paragraph II, A, 1, of its terms of reference, has been received
from the State, War and Navy Departments for transmission to you for
your guidance in accordance with Paragraph III, 1, of those terms of
reference:
- “1. The terms of the policy decision contained in
FEC–031/41
(Provisions for the Review of a New Japanese
Constitution, approved on 17 October 1946 and forwarded
to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers on 28
October 1946, Serial #62)64 should be formally communicated to
the Government of Japan.
- “2. The time and manner of public announcement of this
policy decision are still being considered by the Far
Eastern Commission.”
