Documents with Commentaries Part 1 Military Defeat and Efforts to Reform the Constitution

1-5 U.S. Initial Post-Surrender Policy for Japan

 In April of 1945 with the invasion of mainland Japan impending, the Department of State, at the request of the War Department, produced the "Initial Post-Defeat Policy Proposal" based on "The Post-War Objectives of the United States in regard to Japan," which had been prepared nearly a year earlier. This proposal was submitted to the Subcommittee for the Far East (SFE) under the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee (SWNCC), where the War Department requested the economic policy be bolstered. As a result, a new section on economic was added to SWNCC 150, the basic policy paper regarding Japan that was submitted to SWNCC by the Department of State on June 11.

 With the announcement of the Potsdam Declaration at the end of July, SWNCC 150, which provided for a direct military administration to be established, was edited to become SWNCC 150/1 dated August 11, to include the concept of indirect control. Minor amendments were made to SWNCC 150/2 the next day August 12. Due to the faster than expected capitulation by Japan, the War Department, which had directcontrol over the occupation of Japan, temporarily took the lead in making revisions. The War Department included broad changes in SWNCC 150/3, making clear the policy of indirect control whereby the Supreme Commander would "exercise his authority through Japanese Governmental machinery and agencies, including the Emperor." It also included a clause that "in the event of any differences of opinion" amongthe Allied Powers, the authority of the United States would be "decisive." Following that, the Joint Chiefs of Staff made certain changes and on August 31 it was accepted at a meeting of the SWNCC as SWNCC 150/4. The President of the United States then approved it on September 6, and on September 22 the Department of State issued SWNCC 150/4/A, which was published in various newspapers in Japan on September 24.

 SWNCC 150/4 clearly stated that the ultimate goals of the occupation were to establish a peacefully inclined and responsible government, and to assure the government would be established by the freely expressed will of the Japanese people. In its "Explanation of the United States Initial Post-Surrender Policy," dated September 30, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the U.S. did not guarantee the continuation of the Japanese form of government, including the Imperial system. Rather, the Ministry concluded that the U.S. was hoping, based on "past events" and "national self interest," that the Japanese government and the Japanese people would "voluntarily" reform the existing system of government so as to avoid a situation of external pressure leading to change.

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• Outline
  1. Outline Part 1 Military Defeat and Efforts to Reform the Constitution
  2. Outline Part 2 Creation of Various Proposals to Reform the Constitution
  3. Outline Part 3 Formulation of the GHQ Draft and Response of the Japanese Government
  4. Outline Part 4 Deliberations in the Imperial Diet
  5. Outline Part 5 Enactment of the Constitution of Japan
• Documents with Commentaries
  1. Documents with Commentaries Part 1 Military Defeat and Efforts to Reform the Constitution
  2. Documents with Commentaries Part 2 Creation of Various Proposals to Reform the Constitution
  3. Documents with Commentaries Part 3 Formulation of the GHQ Draft and Response of the Japanese Government
  4. Documents with Commentaries Part 4 Deliberations in the Imperial Diet
  5. Documents with Commentaries Part 5 Enactment of the Constitution of Japan
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  2. Renunciation of War
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