Evening star., 1949-09-01
Occupation Controls
In Japan Relaxed by
Order Of Macarthur
By Roy FoIk
North Amerieon Newspaper AlIiones

By Roy FoIk
North American Newspaper Ailianes
OSAKA, Japan. Sept. 1.-The
9Th Army is slowly rolling up the
occupation carpet throughout
japan on orders from Gen. Mac
Arthur. =,
The Supreme Commanders d.
rective. largely unnoticed IN the
American press when issued Few
days ago, is one of the major de-
cisions handed down by this
headquarters in the last 1our
years.
Over bamboo bars and mess
hall tables, the men who are
charged with enforcing the gen.
erals orders are debating the
effects it will have on the de-
mocratization program.
Those who oppose the move
argue that Gen. Macarthur is
cutting off his ears and poking
out his eyes. Those in favor see
the decision as wisdom persona
fied. A years test will tell.
Basically it is debate between
those who believe the japanese are
children and those who think OF
them as adolescents, ready to
shoulder some responsibility. Ap-
parently. neither group believes
the japanese are fully grown
up-at least in their grasp ana
practice of democracy.
Under Gen. MacArthur's orders,
the As prefectural civil affairs
teams were told to disband. Some
of their functions will be taken
over by eight regional teams eacn
Of which will supervise four TO
six prefectures.
Until now, reports from pre-
fectural teams climbed up the
ladder past civil affairs sections
IN region, corps and army head
quarters and finally up to CHG
in Tokyo. Under the new pro
gram. which will be in full ef1ect
by the end Of the year. the mid
dlemen will be abolished and tne
regional teams will be IN direct
contact with the capital.
Regional team strength Will oe
increased slightly. Their com.
position will change. A colonel
will remain in charge. but the stan
will be mostly civilians trained IN
economics, education. welfare or
some other of the teams depart
ments.
For the first four years OF the
occupation, the civil affairs teams
were called military government
teams. They were supposed to-
report to higher headquarters on
the japanese governments adher-
ence to GHQ directives. They
were Gen. MacArthur's eyes and
ears. But they failed to remain
as aloof as higher headquarters
desired. They soon were taxing
an active part in running the pre-
lectures, sometimes through advice
and sometimes through direct
orders.
The Japanese came to lean on
the MG teams. Except for a few
strong-minded, independent souls,
the japanese turned all initiative
over to the Americans. MG had
to settle strikes. enforce rice col-
lection from the farmers. tax col
lection from businessmen. and q
hundred other matters-an func-
tions Of the japanese government.
Now the japanese will be forced
to do the Job themselves.
Another objection to civil al
fairs teams il recent months was
the caliber and number OF their
men. They we're badly under
stated. The cauber Of the officers
and enlisted men serving in Japan
today is below that Of a year or
two ago. The good men. exper-
fenced in dealing with the Japan
ese and with some expert knowl-
edge in q particular field. went
home In '48. At times. for ex-
ample. 1s-year-old soldiers In
charge of education sections will
order prefectural principals to re-
model their school after the CTS
own high school. Then, also too
many projects were being initiated
in Tokyo for the understafted MG
teams to handle efficiently.
The weak sisters among the
japanese officials raised the Red
flag when they learned we were
leaving the procedures. "The
Communists will take over when
you leave, colonel" the argument
ran.
The commanding officers I have
polled shrug off this threat. They
say the Japanese can handle any
Communist move, even without
our immediate presence.
The Americans, however. admit
that our retrenchment will be
hardest on the liberals in the
japanese bureaucracy who believe
in our principles and who have |