740.00119 Control (Japan)/4–1447
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of War (Patterson)
My Dear Mr. Secretary: On September 6, 1945, after approval by the President, there was transmitted to General MacArthur the United State Initial Post Surrender Policy for Japan.60 This Policy Statement, which sets forth the ultimate objectives of the United States in regard to Japan, envisages resumption of peaceful economic activity in Japan as rapidly as possible, consistent with the accomplishment of the objectives of the occupation. In addition to providing that Japan will be expected to provide goods and services to meet the needs of the occupying forces, the basic policy requires that Japanese authorities will be expected, and if necessary directed, to maintain, develop and enforce programs necessary to avoid acute economic distress, to assure just and impartial distribution of available supplies, to meet the requirements for reparations deliveries and to facilitate the restoration of Japanese economy so that the reasonable peaceful requirements of the population can be satisfied.
In the period which has elapsed since the beginning of the occupation, the War Department and the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers have faced administrative difficulties of the greatest complexity and magnitude. The achievements of the Supreme Commander in the face of these difficulties have been of decisive importance and represent an historic contribution to the execution of the foreign policy of the United States. Moreover, these achievements have been gained on the basis of maximum utilization of Japanese governmental [Page 201] machinery and agencies, in accordance with the principle underlying the Policy Statement.
The Department of State, however, is concerned by signs of increasing difficulties with respect to the internal economic and financial structure of Japan. Japanese governmental machinery must inevitably play a major role in minimizing or avoiding these difficulties and the occupation authorities accordingly face problems of supervision requiring the highest technical and managerial skills. Numerous reports which have reached the Department, such as the report of Mr. Clifford Strike61 concerning certain aspects of Theater planning and administration in connection with the reparations program and of Colonel Harrison62 concerning food and agriculture, appear to indicate the necessity for making available to General MacArthur civilian personnel of outstanding skill and experience to deal with the economic and financial aspects of the occupation.
The Department does not, of course, minimize the accomplishments of the personnel who have been working conscientiously and vigorously to make a success of the occupation. Moreover, the difficulties in the way of recruitment of high calibre civilian personnel are well known to the Department.
It remains true, nevertheless, that the furtherance of United States objectives in Japan inevitably depends upon the efficiency with which Japanese agencies of government carry out the instructions of the Supreme Commander. Supervision of their performance clearly requires constant vigilance on the part of American civilian personnel in requisite numbers and of appropriate skills. This is particularly vital in such matters as the handling of food and agriculture, rationing and price controls, restoration of trade and industry, allocation of raw materials, currency and public finance, labor relations and the effectuation of the reparations program.
I should like, as a matter of great urgency, to explore with you all possible steps to introduce into the staff of the Supreme Commander a quality of personnel and experience comparable to that which has been made available to the Office of Military Government for Germany. The Department of State stands ready to assist the War Department in all practicable action to this end and will undertake to mobilize the civilian agencies of the Government behind the effort.
Sincerely yours,
- See Department of State Bulletin, September 23, 1945, p. 423, or Political Reorientation of Japan, p. 423.↩
- Clifford S. Strike, head of F. H. McGraw & Co., and of Overseas Consultants. Inc., both of New York. In January 1947, Mr. Strike and Edwin W. Pauley headed reparations groups to Japan.↩
- Col. Raymond L. Harrison, representing the Department of Agriculture on the Food Mission to Japan.↩