Evening star., 1951-05-04

different commands that you hac
in the Far East up to the time oi
this change that has just beer
made?
Gen. MacArthur-Fundamentally
I was the Supreme Commander fol
the Allied Powers in Japan.
That was an International offict
I also held an international Office
as the United Nations commander
in Korea. / was also the com
mander in chief of our forces ir
the Far East. I also commanded
this being a technical command
our ground forces in the Far East
I was also military governor of the
Ryukyus Islands.
Senator Smith. Could you de-
fine those Jurisdictions?
Jurisdictions Defined.
Gen. Macarthur - The suprem,
commander was limited entirely tx
Japan. He was the sole executive
authority for the administration O.
Japan The commander in chic
of the United Nations forces wa.
in command in Korea. He. hae
nothing to do except with tht
forces in Korea, and those attri.
butes which came from other sec.
tions, such as Japan.
The commander in chief in tht
Far East has the strategic contro
of the theater which embraces ia.
pan, the Philippines, and the Ryu.
kyus.
Senator Smith-Did you have any
jurisdiction at all or responsibility
over the mainland of China?
Gen. MacArthur-When you wer,
there I did not. Since then it ha
come under by general jurisdiction
strategically.
Senator Smith-Since the wa,
started in Korea.
Gen. MacArthur-That is correct
Senator Smith-But prior to tht
Starting of the war in Korea, Wher,
was the jurisdiction over the main
land?
Gen. Macarthur had no juris.
Idiction whatsoever over Chipa.
Senator Smith-Am I correct II
my recollection that is in the hand.
of the Navy so far as the United
States is concerned?
Gen. MacArthur-It was in thu
hands of the Navy operating di.
rectly under the Joint Chiefs Of
Staff.
Senator Smith - Now, moving
over to Korea, if I recollect, prior
to the outbreak of the war in Ko-
rea, you did not have general juris-
'diction over Korea in any way.
Gen. MacArthur-No, sir: I hae
no jurisdiction whatsoever ovel
Korea.
Senator Smith-What was thu
jurisdiction there? Am correct
that was from the State Depart.
ment?
Gen. Macarthur - The juriSdic.
ton there was under the genera
control of the State Department
operating through the ambassador
I had nothing whatsoever tt
do with the policies, the admins.
tration or the command responsi.
bilitieS in Korea until the war broke
out.
Decision Made in Washington.
Senator Smith-Did you hav,
anything to do with the policy tina
Withdrew your troops or our troop
from Korea prior to the outbreal
of the war?
Gen. MacArthur-That decision
was made in Washington.
Senator Smith, was left will
the impression that there were thre,
different, you might say, jurisdic
tions there, such as you own on tn,
islands; the Navy on the MAINLAND
of China, Formosa, and the Stat
Department in Korea.
Gen. MacArthur-That is correct
Senator Smith-That there wa
no one finger, politically speaking
you might say, on the pulse of tn
whole area?
Gen. MacArthur-That is correct
Senator Smith-Most Of those de
cisions were cleared in Washington
Gen. MacArthur-That is correct
Senator Smith-Well, now, let m
ask you this further question then
general: Assuming there wer
differences of opinion between 20,
and the chiefs of staff as to tn
strategy in Korea? What possible
bearing did that have on your jol
fas soap in Japan?
Gen. MacArthur-It would hav
no direct bearing. 1t would only b.
indirect. AS a matter of fact, I an
not aware of having had any differ
ences with the Joint Chiefs of Stat
on military questions at all.
Senator Smith-What 1 am tryin,
to get at was what was the possible
justification, assuming there was ;
difference of opinion, as you sait
this morning? The Commander il
Chief, the President, could of course
have the power to remove you a.
chief of the operations in Korea
but what relation did that have tt
your job in Japan. as the militar,