United States Initial Post-Defeat Policy Relating to Japan (SWNCC150/2)

TOP SECRET
SWNCC 150/2
12 August 1945
Pages 17 to 24, incl.




The enclosure, a further revision of reference c, drafted by the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee in its meeting held on 12 August 1945, is circulated for consideration by the Committee.


I. OBJECTIVES
The general objectives of the United States in regard to Japan are:
1. The stripping from the Japanese Empire of territories, including the Mandated Islands, in harmony with the Cairo Declaration and such other pertinent agreements as have been or may be reached by the United Nations, and to which the United States is a party;
2. The creation of conditions which will insure that Japan will not again become a menace to the peace and security of the world;
3. The establishment, in accordance with the freely-expressed will of the Japanese people, of a peacefully inclined and responsible government which will respect the rights of other states and Japan's international obligations, and which will be compatible with the ideals and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations Organization; and the development in Japan of respect for fundamental human rights and of principles of liberal and representative government.
II. ALLIED AUTHORITY
From the moment of surrender the authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government to rule the State shall be subject to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper to effectuate the surrender terms. The Emperor shall authorize and insure the signature by the Government of Japan and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters of the surrender terms necessary to carry out the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration and shall issue his commands to all Japanese military, Naval and Air Authorities and to all forces under their control wherever located to cease active operations and to surrender their arms, and to issue such other orders to the people of Japan or such authorities as the Supreme Commander may require to give effect to the surrender terms. To the extent that the accomplishment of the objectives herein enumerated will permit, and subject always to the right of the Supreme Commander to act directly in the event of the unwillingness or incapacity of the Emperor or Supreme Authority, the authority of the Supreme Commander will be exercised in the interests of the United Nations through the Emperor or any authorized Japanese governmental administration.

I. THE POLITICAL OBJECTIVES OF MILITARY OCCUPATION
The immediate objective of the military occupation in Japan shall be the strict enforcement of the obligations assumed by Japan under the instrument of surrender. Within such framework, the general political objectives of the military occupation are:
1. The abolition of militarism and militant nationalism;
2. The encouragement, subject to the necessity for maintaining military security, of liberal tendencies and processes, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and representative government; and
3. The encouragement of democratic political development and the creation of conditions in Japan, with special emphasis on the development of local responsibility, which will facilitate the establishment of a peacefully-inclined and responsible government.
II. MILITARY OCCUPATION
1. Security. Japan's ground, air and naval forces are to be totally disarmed and disbanded, including the dissolution of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and General Staff; military and naval materiel, vessels and installations are to be surrendered or destroyed; industries primarily military in character are to be eliminated. All measures taken in this connection shall be designed to accomplish the permanent and complete disarmament and demilitarization of Japan.
2. Some of the Initial Tasks of Military Occupation
Among the important tasks to be undertaken early by the occupational authority, under the provisions of A, II, above, are:
a. Removal of undesirable persons.
The removal or exclusion from public office or from any other position of public or important private responsibility or influence of those persons who have been exponents of militant nationalism and aggression.
b. Nullification of obnoxious laws.
Suspension or repeal of laws, ordinances and regulations which conflict with the purpose and policies outlined in this document. The abolition or appropriate modification of agencies charged specifically with the execution of such laws, ordinances and regulations. The abrogation of all laws, decrees and regulations which establish discriminations on grounds of race, nationality, creed or political opinions.
c. Political parties or agencies.
Encouragement of democratic political parties with rights of assembly and of public discussion, subject to the necessity for maintaining military security.
d. Media of public information.
Facilitation of the dissemination of democratic and liberal ideals and principles and, in general, the ideals and principles expressed in the Charter of the United Nations.
e. The educational system.
Elimination from the educational system of Japanese militarism and ultra-nationalism including para-military training, making possible the development of democratic ideas, and the inclusion in educational instruction of the principles and ideals expressed in subparagraph d. immediately above.
f. The Administration of Justice.
The reform of the judicial, legal and police systems to the extent necessary to conform to the objectives stated in paragraph I, 3 of Section A. The release of persons unjustly held for political reasons.
g. War Criminals.
Delivery into Allied custody of all persons sought for prosecution as war criminals, including those who have visited cruelties upon Allied prisoners.

I. ECONOMIC DEMILITARIZATION:
A program to demilitarize industry with the aim of preventing Japan from again developing an economic war potential shall be enforced. There shall be developed and established a system of controls that can be continued after military occupation has ceased and that will assure the continued economic disarmament of Japan. Japan shall be permitted to retain no specialized facilities for the production or repair of implements of war, naval vessels or aircraft of any type and shall be deprived of its heavy industry capacity in excess of normal peacetime requirements and of designated key industries of high military importance. Pending decision on disposition either by transfer abroad, use in Japan, or scrapping, there should be no destruction of facilities readily convertible to civilian production except in emergency situations.
II. CONTROL OF JAPANESE ECONOMY:
Such controls will be imposed with respect to Japanese economic activities, including essential national public services, finance, banking, exports, imports, and production and distribution of essential commodities, as may be necessary for any of the following purposes:
1. To meet the needs of the occupation forces;
2. To prevent starvation and such disease and civil unrest as would interfere with the objectives of the military occupation;
3. To furnish reparations as agreed by the Allied Governments;
4. To prepare the way for an ultimate restoration of Japanese economy to the extent that the reasonable peacetime requirements of the population will be met.
Imperial Household property shall not be exempted from any action necessary to carry out the objectives outlined in this document.
III. REPARATIONS, RESTITUTION AND RELIEF:
In accordance with decisions by the appropriate authorities, the occupying authority shall arrange for relief to the United Nations and to liberated areas, for restitution of identifiable looted property and for reparations in kind. The first charge on all approved exports, for reparations or otherwise, shall be a sum necessary to pay for approved imports. Reparation or relief for liberated areas shall neither require nor constitute a ground for the restoration or development of Japanese industries which might contribute to the rearmament of Japan or whose expansion might promote dependence by other countries on Japan for strategic products.
IV. PROMOTION OF DEMOCRATIC FORCES:
The development of democratic organizations in labor, industry, and agriculture shall be encouraged, and a wider distribution of ownership, management and control of the Japanese economic system shall be favored.
V. CONTROL OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS:
All international economic and financial transactions shall be controlled, but the Japanese shall be permitted under these controls access to, as distinguished from control over, necessary raw materials and eventual participation in world trade relations. No credit shall be extended Japan or any Japanese person in Japan by foreign persons or governments, except with approval of the occupational authority. Neither the Japanese Government nor any Japanese person in Japan shall be permitted to acquire foreign assets except by specific approval of the occupational authority.