The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-09-21

MacArthur said. this bloodless oc- cupation was impossible without re- tention of the emperor for surren- der purposes and he declared that maintenance of the emperor during the disarmament proceedings had resulted in an untold saving of American lives, money and time"
 Jap Army Out During the interview MacArthur vigorously batted down various rec ports regarding the occupation such as that the Japanese were hiding arms, that Japanese soldiers were sneaking into the Gendarmerie, that the Japanese fail to realize they are thoroughly licked, or that the Amer jeans have not yet come into actual possession of surrendered Japanese arms and munitions.
 He revealed that the Japanese military and secret police were be- ing abolished, that no permanent Japanese army for policing purposes will be maintained, that nothing will be done regarding the employ ment of 3,000,000 Japanese soldiers who must exist or die as members of a civilian population which is already without houses, underfed, and heavily unemployed.
 MacArthur pointed out that the Japanese Diet was permitted to meet briefly only to'transmit capitu- lation instructions to the populace.
 MacArthur greeted me with a smiling but penetrating gaze. We got down to business at once. My first question: Tn the occupa- tion of Japan are the terms Of the Potsdam declaration being en- forced to the letter?"
 Absolutely, yes"
 "There seems to be an impress ton in the United States that you are going to tolerate the existence of a standing army of Japanese who will do most of the policing of Japan" l said. Would you care to comment on this?"
 This query evoked an emphatic reply.
 "There is no fabric of truth in this statement" MacArthur said. "The Japanese army Is being coSn- pletely demobilized by Oct. IS and l hDSOAOVSAy aSOAAoAACA'
 Navy Abolished
 I then asked what would be done with the remnants of the Japanese navy.
 He replied decisively, "all of 1t will be destroyed except minor specimens which may be retained for scientific of museum purposes. " Asked how long the occupation of Japan would be continued, Mac Arthur answered, T am sure 1t will take many years to fulfill the terms of the surrender"
 Asked If he had any authenti- cated reports of concealment or weapons by Japanese soldiers or civilians, Macarthur said, none. I have no doubt that in the begin ming in small isolated cases indivi- duals have attempted to conceal arms but 1t would be impossible in any degree"
 There have been many reports regarding the numerical strength of the American Army at present in Japan and the future maximum which will be required for the oc- cupation, so I asked MacArthur for statement on this.
 "At the present time there are approximately l50,000 troops in Japan" he said. "The maximum figure will reach approximately 500OO0."
 He said 1t was not planned to use American troops for any con- struction of housing for the Jap anese and that there is no plan for importing food, clothing or sup- plies for the use Of the Japanese population this winter.
 twill the demobilized Japanese Army in Japan be put to work un- der the supervision of American authorities?" I asked.
 "rhey will be a responsibility of the Japanese themselves, he said. "They will be absorbed into the normal Japanese civil popula- ton.
 Asked if there was any deterior- ation in the attitude of respect and cooperation shown by Japanese soldiers and civilians toward the occupation forces, MacArthur re- piled: "None whatsoever"
 "Is retention of the Emperor serving a useful purpose,"1 asked.
 Macarthur: His retention dur ing the surrender and demobilizing steps is serving it's full purpose. An untold saving in American lives money, and time has resulted"
 Enforce Regulations
 Regarding reports in the United States that MacArthur is not treat- ing the Japanese with sufficient harshness, he commented:
 "The Japanese are not being treated with brutality but every step provided by the surrender terms, no matted how harsh, is be- ing enforced. Their humiliation despair, and the hardships which they face cannot be over-estimat- ed"
 Asked whether he believed the Japanese military clements and people realize their defeat, Mac- Arthur replied, completely, al- though there will always be the guardhouse type of lawyers who will present their own arguments. An educational campaign is planned further to drive home the realiza- ton of their complete defeat"
 "Coulr our troops have safely erl- tered Tokyo before they didP" asked.
 T believe the entrance was made as soon as possible without taking unwarranted risks" MacArthur re- piled. "When the first cavalry divi- sion arrived 1t was pushed into Tokyo without delay. The only oth- CT troops available to me at the time was the llth Airborne Division which lightly held the Yokohama beachhead.
 Tt would have been foolhardy tc push this division into Tokyo soon- er."
 I then asked, "are discharged .Iananeae soldiers going into the