Evening star., 1949-09-03
Macarthur on Postwar japan

General MacArthur's statement on
Japan's situation and prospects is note
worthy document. Issued on the fourth
anniversary of Japan's surrender, it sur
veys in detail from that significant vantage
postwar period, and what may reasonably
be deduced therefrom.
Throughout, the survey is characterized
by optimism. From the depths of physical
and spiritual prostration four years ago,
the general sees sustained and rapid re-
covery, not only materially but, even more
important in the long run, on the mental
and moral plane as well. Economically,
politically, socially and ideologically the
foundations are being laid for democratic
national life which should prevent alike a
revival of the authoritarian regime which
collapsed in lost war and subiugation to
the totalitarian tyranny of communism.
Achievements such as land reform, break
up of the industrial oligarchy, the emanci-
patton of women, and the rise of sound
middle class are eradicating in japan "the
basic causes of social unrest throughout
Asia by the redesign of the social structure
to permit equalization of individual oppor-
tunity and personal privilege" For these
reasons, Macarthur states unqualifledly
that "the threat of communism as major
issue in Japanese life is past. 1t fell as
victim of its own excesseS. The japanese
mind penetrated the hypocrisy supporting
its position"
The general is equally positive in deny
ing the validity of current arguments that
Japan may be forced to seek accommoda-
tion with Communist China to recover
needed raw materials. He asserts fatty
that, under the "stranglehold of commu-
nism," Red China will have little or
nothing to trade with, and that therefore
"for the time being Japan must look else
where for sources of her needed imports
and markets for her manufactures" And
he goes on to point hopefully to the rising
statistics of foreign trade as an indication
that this can be done.
General MacArthur'S report will doubt
less be criticized in various quarters as
unduly optimistic. Yet no one is in a better
position to formulate an authoritative
opinion than the man who has, from the
first, headed the Allied military occupation
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carrying out. That, on the whole, this
occupation has been notably successful, few
unprejudiced observers will deny. It GER
tainly compares favorably with the Allied
occupation OF Germany, from almost every
angle. The basic reasons for this contrast
are unity of direction in Japan and the
extraordinary moral prestige which Gen.
eral Macarthur has attained with the
japanese people
1t Is, therefore, against this BACKGROUND
that the generals final judgment should
be considered. "Of the japanese people"
ne concludes, IT can pay no higher tribute
than to repeat that they have fully and
faithfully fulfilled their surrender COM
mltments and have well earned the free
dom and dignity and opportunity which
alone can come with the restoration of q
formal peace"
This plea of the general for a speedy
and definitive peace settlement for japan
seems entirely sound. Indeed, he has been
urging 1t repeatedly for more than two
years. Such settlement, in Japan as in
Germany and elsewhere, is blocked pri-
marily by the intransigence and bad faith
OF the Soviet Union. Peace for Japan, even
without Moscow's assent, is a possibility
worth consideration.