894.00/10–1045
The Acting Political Adviser in Japan
(Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
No. 4
Tokyo, October 10,
1945.
[Received October 22.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose copy
of a memorandum of this date to the Supreme Allied Commander
suggesting a general plan to further the reformation of the
Japanese Government by replacement of long service reactionary
subordinate personnel. We have reason to believe that high
officials who endeavor to undertake desired reform generally
feel themselves handicapped and even blocked entirely by the
opposition or passive resistance of their subordinates and some
comprehensive plan for replacement of long service reactionaries
would seem necessary for any fundamental and effective
reformation of the government.
It will be observed that, as regards the Ministers of War and the
Navy, recommendation is made that they be entirely abolished
after completion of demobilization and surrender of military
equipment and facilities as their continued existence in a
demilitarized country would be without justification.
Respectfully yours,
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[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the Acting Political Adviser
in Japan (Atcheson)
Memorandum for: Supreme Commander and
Chief of Staff.31
Subject: Reformation of Japanese
Government.
One of the obvious difficulties in the way of a suitable
reformation of the Japanese Government is the reactionary
attitude, due to early training and long bureaucratic
service, of the subordinate officials of the various
ministries. It is to be assumed, for example, that most
officials in subordinate (but important) executive posts
have served from fifteen to twenty-five years, at least the
last fourteen of which have been devoted to the furtherance
of Japanese aggression and imperialism, and there is reason
to believe that Cabinet ministers and vice ministers who
honestly wish to institute reform feel themselves blocked by
the reactionary attitudes or passive resistance of such
subordinates.
By rough estimate the recent directive of October 4, 1945 for
the removal of restriction on political, civil and religious
liberties should cause the abolition of fifty percent of the
positions in and under the Home Ministry. As those remaining
will doubtlessly be for the most part reactionary old hands
and as reportedly many in office during the war who were
responsible for repressive policies and actions were either
promoted or left in service, it is recommended that in due
course after the directive has been carried out the Ministry
be required to replace fifty percent of the remaining
personnel with new personnel. It is also recommended that a
similar procedure be adopted with regard to other ministries
so that within a few months time seventy-five percent of the
old personnel will be replaced by new. The Justice Ministry,
for example, should be thoroughly overhauled, especially the
procurator’s department. As regards the Ministry of Finance,
much in this direction has probably been accomplished by the
shutting down of imperialistic banking institutions and the
process could be carried through the government monopolies
(tobacco, salt, camphor) and also through the
government-controlled industrial associations. As for the
Ministry of War and Navy, it is believed that they should be
entirely abolished when demobilization and surrender of
equipment and facilities have been accomplished as their
continued existence thereafter would be without
justification in a demilitarized country.
If some such plan is adopted, it is further recommended that
appropriate
[Page 743]
officials of the Japanese Government be so informed in order
that they may have opportunity themselves to take the
desired action.
