740.00119 Control (Japan)/8–1845
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to President Truman 21
Subject: National Composition of Forces to Occupy Japan Proper in the Post-Defeat Period.
The State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have agreed that the following is the policy of the United States with regard to the responsibility of the major Allies and possibly other United Nations at war with Japan, and the apportionment of such responsibility, for occupation and for the military government of Japan Proper in the post-defeat period:
- a.
- This Government is committed to consultation with those of its Allies at war with Japan.
- b.
- This Government is also committed to the principle of united action for the prosecution of the war and acting together in all matters relating to the surrender and disarmament of Japan.
- c.
- The United Kingdom, China and the Soviet Union have a responsibility to participate with the United States in the occupation and military control of Japan and the obligation to assume a share in the burden thereof.
- d.
- While the establishment of policies for the control of Japan is a matter to be entered into by the major Allies in harmony with the United Nations, the United States should insist on the control of the implementation of those policies. The United States should exercise the controlling voice in the occupation authority in Japan Proper, should make available its share of occupational forces, should designate the commander of all occupational forces and principal subordinate commanders, and should keep strategically placed those forces necessary to implement its policies. Furthermore, the occupation authority in Japan should be organized on the principle of centralized administration, avoiding the division of the country into national zones of independent responsibility administered separately.
- e.
- The major Allies should be called upon to make substantial contributions to the occupational force in conformity with their obligations to share in the burden of controlling Japan.
- f.
- Participation in the occupation authority in Japan and in furnishing the forces of occupation may be extended as desired to include those countries, other than the major Allies, which will have made timely request to share in such responsibilities and which have actively and substantially participated in the war against Japan.
- g.
- The interests of the United States would be served by the participation of Orientals in the occupation forces and in the occupation authority in Japan.
It is requested that you indicate whether you approve the policy stated above.
- Approved by President Truman on August 18. Notations by Harold W. Moseley, Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of European Affairs and member of the SWNCC Secretariat read: “Mr. Dunn has notified the Secretary of this approval by the President” and “This memorandum was written to obtain Presidential approval to SWNCC 70/5 which had been approved by the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee Aug 11 and also by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”↩