Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-14
BY JIM CAREY

1Oh4Oy-A vast W1QeTueSS VI
rubble and debris stretched as far
as the eye could see.
Here and there the dark. scorched
husk of a concrete building thrust
skyward like a weird funeral pyre.
A few people, faces blank with
shock, wandered through smoking
ruins left by the nightly armada of
giant planes and the shower OF
death from the heavens.
This was Tokyo and 144 other
cities of Japan-broken, PROSTATE.
and bleeding-when the Pacific war
ended August IA. l945.
Today. 10 years after the surren-
der, Japan has raised shining new
communities from the ashes. Asias
finest trains flash between cities
throbbing with commerce. The
Japanese people live under greater
freedom than they have ever known.
And Japan is driving for a position
of full equality in the world of dem
ocratic nations.
Rebuilding began almost with
arrival of the first occupation
troops. They helped Japan put
brick on brick, restore water, sew
age and electric systems. erect new
homes and lift up again the fac
tories that had made her a great
power.
Those were the halcyon days for
foreigners. They had brought food
and medicine instead of expected
pillage and rape. The japanese
treated them as If they could do
no wrong.
But with the coming of independ-
ence in the San Francisco treaty Of
September 8, 1851. Japan's attitude
flrmed. And now, under the ad-
minlstration of Prime Minister
Ichiro Hatoyama, there Is a stiff.
projected program of up to IS per
cent taxation for foreigners, finger
printing and careful scrutiny OF
their activities.
The government denies these
moves are anti-American. or anti
any other foreign group. But there
are officials who quietly admit
Japan wants some foreigners out.
There have been other significant
changes, too.
Macarthur Reforms
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, the
occupation commander whose re-
gal bearing once touched a re-
sponsiye chord in the Japanese, Is
almost a forgotten man, blurred
image some feel will yet be assigned
q proper role in Japan's history.
The reforms he sponsored. at
first accepted favorably. have met
varying success.
The reorganization Of schools
provided compulsory nine instead
Of the prewar six years Of educa-
ton. Parents grumble it is unduly
expensive, but changes do not seem
imminent.
Breakup Of the Zaibatsu indus
trial monopolies is now looked upon
as foolishness. 1t created ''wasteful
competition" Some OF the frag-
ments are reforming.
The free labor movement Is
storm center. Investors say it is
laced with Communists The Labor
ministry says 80 per cent of the
million unionists are anti-Commu-
mist. Picketing and strike curbs
are expected. but the movement
apparently has firm democratic
roots.
The new constitution has gen.
eral public approval although con-
servatives want to revise its arma-
ments renouncing clause to permit
a bigger defense build-up, and to
enhance powers Of the emperor,
denoted from a godlike "inviolable
monarch" to a mere symbol Of
state.
Land reform and women's suff-
rage are probably the most sue
cessful of the changes. The one
destroyed an evil system of tenant
farming. broke up the feudalistic
practice of the oldest son Inherit
ing all property. and created an
entire economic class opposed to
communism. The other gave Japan
a new voice to plead for social
gains.
Yet these issues fade into insig-
nificance alongside Japan's historic
struggle to stay solvent as a nation.
Briefly this is the problem:
Japan's foreign trade was crushed
by the war. Her exports now are
only as per cent of the 1934-1936
level, imports 76 per cent.