US Initial Post-Surrender Policy for Japan
Encyclopedia
The US Initial Post-Surrender Policy for Japan is a legal document approved by US President Harry S. Truman
on September 6, 1945, which governed US policy in the occupation of Japan following surrender in the Second World War. It was released to the public on September 22.
The document also set four main policies to be pursued:
The document stipulated the occupation was to last until these objectives were to be met, without specifying time limit.
Practical control was vested in the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
(SCAP), appointed by the US, a post given to General Douglas McArthur. Other Allies government were only given symbolic participation in policy making over Japan.
The Japanese government was retained along with the Emperor, but were subjected to SCAP.
The document established freedom of speech and freedom of religion as basic principles, and also prohibited religious and racial discrimination.
Two issues the document referred to were the issue of free elections and the demand for the dissolution of the big businesses then controlling Japanese economy. The document did not require any policy on these issues, but called upon SCAP to encourage Japanese government to take steps on these matters.
This non-committal attitude on free elections and corporate control derived from the view of Japanese society as over conservative and not very susceptible to change.
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
on September 6, 1945, which governed US policy in the occupation of Japan following surrender in the Second World War. It was released to the public on September 22.
Background
The document titled "US Initial Post-Surrender Policy for Japan" was drafted by the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee, and approved by that committee on August 29, 1945, and its official designation was SWNCC 150/4. It was approved by the president on September 6, and released to the media on September 22.Provisions of the document
The document set two main objectives for the occupation:- To ensure that Japan will not become a menace to world peace.
- To turn Japan into a peaceful nation beneficial to US policy according to the principles of the UN Charter.
The document also set four main policies to be pursued:
- Japanese sovereignty only to include the four main Japanese islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku, while the fate of additional islands was to be determined later (this provision was taken from the Potsdam DeclarationPotsdam DeclarationThe Potsdam Declaration or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender is a statement calling for the Surrender of Japan in World War II. On July 26, 1945, United States President Harry S...
of July 26, 1945). - Japan was to be disarmed, and the military was not to play important role in Japanese society in the future.
- The Japanese society was to be "encouraged" to develop personal liberties, such as freedoms of religion, assembly, speech, and the press, as well as to develop democratically elected institutions. It is important to note that the US government used the word "to encourage", indicating the framers of this document were not certain this was a totally desirable objective.
- The Japanese economy was to be developed for peaceful purposes.
The document stipulated the occupation was to last until these objectives were to be met, without specifying time limit.
Practical control was vested in the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
(SCAP), appointed by the US, a post given to General Douglas McArthur. Other Allies government were only given symbolic participation in policy making over Japan.
The Japanese government was retained along with the Emperor, but were subjected to SCAP.
The document established freedom of speech and freedom of religion as basic principles, and also prohibited religious and racial discrimination.
Two issues the document referred to were the issue of free elections and the demand for the dissolution of the big businesses then controlling Japanese economy. The document did not require any policy on these issues, but called upon SCAP to encourage Japanese government to take steps on these matters.
This non-committal attitude on free elections and corporate control derived from the view of Japanese society as over conservative and not very susceptible to change.
Aftermath
The US Initial Post-Surrender Policy for Japan became official legal document for the conduct of Japanese affairs during the occupation. Following the establishment of the Allied Council for Japan in December 1945, it was charged with drafting a joint Allied occupation statute for Japan, to be based on the same document. However, opposition among Allied governments to approve a statute that gave the US government the dominant position led to delays, and the new statute was finally approved on June 19, 1947.External links
- Page with documents from The National Diet Library, Japan http://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/shiryo/01/022shoshi.html