Evening star., 1949-05-14
Our New japanese Policy

The American decision TO oppose further
reparations from Japan was based on prac-
tical considerations that were weighed
rights of our Pacific theater Allies-to
share in the spoils Of war. Foremost of
these considerations is the danger that
any further removal of capital equipment
from Japan will gravely impede our efforts
to restore our former enemy TO self
supporting basis. An additional factor Is
the apparent futility of the eleven nation
Far Eastern Commissions ever reaching an
agreement on division of reparations.
Actually, the United States decided in
1947 to renounce its claim TO any major
share of the booty, although the policy
adopted then was not publicly disclosed.
The State Department has let it be known
that in November of that year this country
notified the Far Eastern Commission that
If agreement were reached on individual
shares, the United States would be willing
to turn over all but token percentage of
its share for division among the other
members. This gesture, 1t was hoped,
would facilitate final disposal of the vexing
reparations problem. 1t did not crack the
impasse, however. Earlier in 1947, acting
under our emergency unilateral authority,
we had started the reparations machinery
moving Of our own accord. This unilateral
program has resulted in the delivery of
large quantities of machine tools to China,
the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies and
the British colonial possessions in the Far
East. Meanwhile we have continued Wig
orously, but vainly, our efforts to bring the
dissident members of the FEC together for
a solution of the repayment question.
Underlying our new policy Is the fear
that Japan will become a sinkhole for
additional millions or billions of American
dollars before the country is sufficiently
stabilized to permit any substantial reduc-
ton of our occupation burdens. Already
we have poured more than billion dollars
into the Japanese economy. This aid has
averted chaos, but officials say there Is no
prospect of a balanced economy in the
foreseeable future. Some three billions of
Japan's external assets have been seized.
The added burden of reparations made the
prospect of economic recovery even more
remote.
That there will be strong opposition to
our new policy from at least some FEC
members goes without saying The Philip
pines, still suffering from the ravages of
Japanese ruthlessness, already have raised
a cry of protest. The Philippines previ-
ously had joined with Britain and France
in opposing the American plan for partici-
patton by Japan in the Paris meeting of the
International Accommodation Union.
It is not easy for victims of aggression to
go along with policy of giving the Japa-
nese more and more leeway in shifting for
themselves The rise of Hitler's Germany
after World War I is still fresh in many
memories. 80,
1t is important, however to keep fore
most in mind our own interests. If, by
forgodng reparations and otherwise assist
ing our late Pacific enemy to get back on
his feet, we, can relieve ourselves Of some
Of our heavy responsibilities In Tokyo, our
new Japanese policy can be justified. But
we must make sure that, once back on his
feet, he does not possess the capacity again
to wage aggressive warfare against his
henefactors