Milford chronicle., 1947-08-08
THE UNITED STATES proposal that an


East. Many veXing problem remains to be
solved in Japan-but there we have come
nearer than anywhere else to achieving what
we set out to do in the beginning.
When the BattleShip Missouri entered
Tokyo Bay to become the stage for the formal
surrender, no one knew what lay ahead. The
major Japanese cities had been ravaged by
American air attack, with the atomic bomb
dealing the final blow. The Japanese home
armies were intact, and it was feared that
groups of soldiers might carry on under
ground, guerilla warfare against the Ameri-
can forces for years to come. 1t was thought
further that deep hatred might have been
bred in the masses of the Japanese people
toward America, and that this might make
reconstruction and the eventual establish
ment of an acceptable Japanese government
impossible. 1t was forecast in some quarters
that full-scale occupation of the Japanese
islands might have to be maintained for al
generation or more.
The Macarthur policy in Japan would
take volumes to dScribe in detail. It's basic
principle has been ducation-coupled with a
very firm kind of justice. The first step was
the elimination of the Japanese militarists
from positions of influence. The war crimi-
mails were sought out, tried, and punished
The enormous authority of the Emperor
which is a religious force difficult to under
stand in an Occidental country-waS used to
the utmost. The Japanese people were as
Sured that the Americans were there to help
them help themselves and that they had
nothing to fear if they Obeyed the rules An
extremely tight discipline was established
over the American military forces, and it was
demanded that they make themselves worthy
examples of democratic nation.
Macarthur has been criticized for MANY
r Int, L.
his administrative ability. To inculcate even
the simplest democratic principles in the JAP
anese mind has been task of extraordinary
difficulty. Japan has always been a feudal
country. The bulk of the people have never
had anything to say about it's government
Until 1853, when the u. S. fotilla under
Commodore Perry opened the door to trade
1t had been almost completely secluded from
Western influences. In late years, the mill
tarlStS swamped the country with their
sWord-rattling propaganda, and did every
thlng possible to sell the idea that Japan's
destiny was domination of the world.
In the face of all this, the American occu-
patton forces have achieved a remarkable
degree OF success. 1t would be ridiculous to
assume that Japan is now completely pre-
pared for Self-gOvernment. She will have to
be guided IN one way or another for a long
time to come. But a growing measure of
democratic knowledge and feeling is being
built up, and special stress has been placed on
democratic education in the schools. Work
is now being done to revitalize Japanese in
dustry and trade, and the campaign against
the black. market-scOurge of Japan as it is
OF all the defeated nations-has been inten-
sifed.
1t is notable that Macarthur has had q
Tree nand In Japan and, in that, he has had
fHnn0nnHO1c oH oRorr
chlefS IN Europe. Russian influence has been
generally confined to her section of Korea
and there, as usual, she has established an
iron curtain. In the main islands Russia has
mad little to say as to policy, and Macarthur
has brOOked no ObStructiOniSt tactics There
are communist elements among the Japanese
people, but they seem to be very much in the
minority. Japan, under American rule. has
come long, long way in two years, and this
country has every reason for pride in thai
accomplishment.
THERE IS A GREAT STORY featured
by the Extension Service of the u. S. De
partment OF Agriculture. "City kids" hav
made fine records in cotton and tobacco
fields.
Non-farm youths were an unknown
quantity few years ago. Some berry an,
vegetable growers had relied on them fo
harvesting operations in years past; but far
mers as whole put little stock in city boy
and girls, for many of these new recruit
were not offering to work because they need
ed job or the money. Farmers were espe
clally skeptical about housing "green" cit
youngster in the farm home and making eve
substitute "hired man" out of him. An
many county agent shared this skepticisn
But the youth program began few year
ago, and it has stuck through war and re
conversion. The U. S. Department of Ayr
cultures extension placements amounted t
as many as million and half in one wa
year. Backed" by good platoon system i
Oregon, the youth program made a big cor
tribution to the Northwests fruit and vegt
table production. Based on a sound program
OF supervision and selection, good ''live-in
help was provided for the general and dair
farms of New England, New York, Penn
sylvania, Minnesota, and others. Survey
show how much farmers liked these live-in
; Ninety per cent of the Maine farmers VIII