Evening star., 1953-11-15

OCAAOOA dO4O PINhCBC VI pIOIcSUlI18
the stationing of American troops
in their areas. A new movie Is
about to be released putting Ameri-
can forces in a particularly bad
light. The plot centers around q
recent Japanese repatriate from
China who finds his old homestead
at the foot of Mount Full (the
sacred" mountain symbol of Nip
pom Converted into a military base.
(There is an American base at the
foot of Mount Fuji, near Gotemba) d.
The repatriate's old girl friend has
become prostitute consorting with
American soldiers, and his family
rents working areas in the old home
stead to other Streetwalkers. The
accent in the movie, say those who
have seen it, Is on "Stark realism"
Americans, it is reported, have been
cast as soldiers in the picture.
Living Stondords
Besides actual security-force fric.
tlonS, there are several other factors
often read as signs of "anti-Ameri-
canlSm." OF late, for instance.
there is a more noticeable resent
ment OF American dependents high
standard of living.
Probably the least important force
working to embarrass Americans in
Japan is communism. The average
man on the street already has
worked out private balance sheet
on the Reds. OF course, the Amer
lean CT comes out way ahead. The
Communists are. however, trying to
make as big thing as possible out
Of what impatience with Americans
there is.
On the political level, anti-Amer.
icanism is used as a club to beat
Premier Shigeru Yoshida, who SYM
bolizes the occupation. Mr.. Yo-
Shida's rivals hit at him by hitting
at America.
There is also an increasing section
OF honest doubters. confused by the
glaring reversal of United States
policy toward Japan. Most of these
took their neutralism seriously when
Gen. Macarthur proposed it and
wrote IL into their constitution. Now
the trend toward the much-ab-
horred ;'militariSm" has these people
worried. Some Of them are becom-
ing anti-American because they
think the United States is letting
them down, using Japan greedily az
a pawn in the cold war. In time,
American off1cialdom expects these
doubters to come around.
Pride Of independence
But the largest ingredient in the
so-called anti-Americanism picture
Is the resurgent pride in independ-
ence which has gripped the Japanese.
There are those who say the anti
Americanism is too insignificant to
be mentioned, that the real Japanese
mood is merely one Of Joy in their
regained freedom of choice. Most
officials on the Japanese side and in
American defensive and diplomatic
positions take this view. They would
prefer to put the whole question on
this basis Of Japanese nationalism
rather than anti-Americanism.
There is one significant fact to
bear out their Interpretation: What
obstruction there is to Americans in
Japan has not been on the personal
level. The japanese still bow to
Americans on the street. They still
stop to help fix the unfortunate
Americans fiat tire. The most vocal
Japanese advocates of standing up
to America in official policy still have
close American friends.
In one sense, the United States
would actually like to promote
more self-assertiveness among the
Japanese, and would probably even
be willing to accept little more
back talk in return. One difficulty
even now, .18 months after the Jap
anese regained their independence.
is that Japan looks to the United
States to make all its important de-
cisions The Japanese rely on the
United States to tell them to rearm,
for instance. Cabinet ministers still
go around to Diet committees with
the tale that "the Americans want
us to do it'-just as they did during
the ccupation-instead of letting
their policies stand or fall on their
merits. This prolonged, self-imposed
dependency has been particularly
apparent in rearmament and eco
nomic policy.
Rule on Troops
A couple of recent moves by the
United States should act to relieve
much of the anti-American feeling
here. A recent agreement calls for
American soldiers to be tried by
Japanese courts, under japanese laws.
for any violations outside military
bases. This vitiates all chance for
Japanese charges of extraterritorial-
ity
American troops meanwhile take
a dim view Of the decision, however.
This is a case where restraint on
the part of the japanese will be
highly desirable. Most American
soldiers see the question only from
their own side. They we're drafted,
they say, against their will. Japanese
law being different from American,
they find themselves suddenly in
danger Of being deprived of some Of
their civil rights. Actually, Japa-
neSe laws on civil rights are very
similar to American laws now. But
punishments vary. There Is also
apprehension that Japanese courts
will be swayed by sympathy for the
Japanese side of any case involving
an American.
Both japanese and American gov
ernment officials are holding their
breath waiting for the first serious
American violation Of japanese law.
America has taken another step
which should take some Of the push
out Of japanese anti-Americanism.
The United States has told Japan