Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The British Commonwealth, The Far East, Volume VI

740.00119 P.W./9–545

Memorandum by the Acting Chairman of the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee (Matthews) to the Secretary of State

Washington, 5 September, 1945.

Subject: Disarmament, Demobilization and Disposition of Enemy Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War. (Japan)

References:	a. SWNCC 58/5.22
	b. SWNCC 58/7.
	c. SWNCC 58/8.
	d. SWNCC 58/9.23

Reference is made to SWNCC memorandum dated 19 May 1945 which forwarded a statement of policy on the above subject.

By informal action on 4 September 1945, the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee approved the attached statement of policy on “Disarmament, Demobilization and Disposition of Enemy Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War”, which supersedes the policy of 19 [18] May 1945 (SWNCC 58/5).

The enclosure is transmitted herewith as approved politico-military policy on the subject for guidance and such implementation as is deemed appropriate. Copies of this policy are being forwarded similarly to the Secretaries of War, the Navy and Joint Chiefs of Staff.

For the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee:

H. Freeman Matthews

[Annex]

Statement of Policy on Disarmament, Demobilization, and Disposition of Enemy Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War

[SWNCC 58/9]

[Washington, September 4, 1945.]

I. Definitions.

II. Disarmament.

III. Demobilization.

IV. Disposition of enemy equipment.

A. General policies.

B. Special instructions pertaining to aircraft, aeronautical equipment and facilities.

C. Special instructions pertaining to naval craft, naval equipment and facilities.

I. Definitions

1. For the purpose of this paper, “Japanese armed forces” are defined to be all Japanese land, sea and air forces; Japanese military and paramilitary organizations, formations and units; and their organized Japanese auxiliaries (not including Japanese civilians having only a tenuous military relationship). Japanese-controlled forces of other than Japanese nationality, and the Japanese civil police force, are not defined as Japanese armed forces for the purpose of this paper.

2. “Enemy equipment” is defined as:

a. All arms, ammunition, explosives, military equipment, stores and supplies and other implements of war of all kinds and any equipment or other property whatsoever belonging to, used by, or intended for use by Japanese armed forces and Japanese-controlled armed forces or any members thereof in connection with their operations.

b. Naval combatant and auxiliary vessels and craft of all kinds, both surface and submarine, including those under repair, alteration or construction.

c. All aircraft, both military and civilian, aviation and anti-aircraft equipment and devices.

d. All military installations and establishments, including airfields, seaplane bases, naval bases, military research establishments military storage depots, permanent and temporary land and coast fortifications, fortresses and other fortified areas, together with plans and drawings of all such fortifications, installations and establishments.

II. Disarmament

3. All Japanese armed forces and Japanese-controlled armed forces will be completely disarmed immediately following Japan’s collapse or unconditional surrender. All forces will be rendered incapable of further effective military resistance prior to the movement of any unit or organization incident to its demobilization. Military establishments of all kinds will be seized and disarmed.

4. The delivery of all arms, ammunition and implements of war in the possession of the Japanese civilian population to designated commanders will be required.

5. The development, manufacture, importation and exportation of arms, ammunition and implements of war will be prohibited.

III. Demobilization

6. All Japanese armed forces personnel will be returned as promptly as shipping priorities will permit, to Japan Proper from the following areas:

a. Occupied areas in China (including Manchuria, and Kwantung Leased Territory and Kwangchowan).

b. Karafuto (southern part of Sakhalin).

c. Korea (Chosen).

d. Kurile Islands (Chishima).

e. Formosa (Taiwan) and Pescadores (Hoko or Boko).

f. Hong Kong.

g. French Indo-China.

h. Thailand.

i. Burma.

j. British Malaya.

k. Netherlands East Indies.

l. Philippine Islands.

m. Marianas, Marshalls, and Caroline Islands and all other land and water areas not mentioned above, south of the thirtieth degree of north latitude.

7. In all territories listed in the preceding paragraph, the designated commander shall prohibit and prevent:

a. the forced evacuation of any non-Japanese inhabitant.

b. the harming of the inhabitants or the damaging of their property.

c. the removal of animals, stores of food, forage, fuel or other provisions or commodities.

d. pillaging, looting or unauthorized damage of any kind.

8.

• a. Japanese armed forces in Japan will be demobilized as soon after surrender as is practicable.
• b. Repatriated Japanese armed forces will be demobilized as soon as practicable after their arrival in Japan. However, shipping problems may prevent the accomplishment of the repatriation of substantial numbers of Japanese prisoners to Japan until a considerable time after the cessation of hostilities. Any Japanese prisoners in United States custody still awaiting repatriation from territories reverting to Chinese sovereignty shall be turned over to the Chinese at the same time as the United States relinquishes control of the military government of such territory.
• c. Demobilization of Japanese-controlled puppet forces shall be responsibility of the local military government.
• d. Agreements must be reached with the Allied governments concerned before any natives of Korea, Formosa, Karafuto or the Kurile Islands, taken as Japanese prisoners outside their own homelands, are returned to their homelands. Natives of these places taken prisoners in their own homelands should not be removed to Japan if only for demobilization and subsequent reshipment to their homelands.

9. The Japanese military supply services will be required to continue to function in order to provide the minimum supply requirements of the surrendered Japanese forces pending the total demobilization of such forces and for other prescribed military purposes.

10. The Japanese Imperial High Command shall be abolished at the earliest practicable date as a means of preventing the reestablishment of Japanese military power. However, in order to facilitate the rapid demilitarization and disposal of the Japanese armed forces and Japanese-controlled armed forces, the designated commander is authorized to operate through this agency and to retain temporarily such parts thereof as are considered essential to the effective control and administration of the Japanese armed forces during the period of demobilization.

11. Pending return to Japan, such elements of the Japanese armed forces and Japanese-controlled armed forces as the designated commander may elect may be retained in any areas including those listed in paragraph 6 above for such purposes as he may direct, including among others, the following:

a. Destruction of fortifications, military installations, and enemy equipment;

b. Reconstruction and rehabilitation within areas which have been overrun or damaged as a result of war;

c. Safe-guarding and maintenance of Japanese armament and equipment pending its final disposition;

d. Manning and maintenance of naval and merchant craft and equipment;

e. Explanation and demonstration of research and development projects and new or unique items of equipment;

f. Repair, operation and maintenance of military transportation and communication facilities;

g. Removal of mines, minefields and other obstacles to movement by land, sea and air.

12. The Japanese people are to be impressed with the fact of the complete defeat of their armed forces. To this end, the personnel of such forces will in no case be permitted to return to their homes in military formations, with bands playing, or with a display of flags, banners or emblems of distinction. They will be permitted to take with them nothing but approved personal effects and such equipment, supplies and currency as are essential for the journey.

13. Those members of the Japanese armed forces and Japanese-controlled armed forces who are charged with war crimes will be held in custody and will not be demobilized.

IV. Disposition of Enemy Equipment

A. General Policies

14. Enemy equipment which is essentially or exclusively for use in war or warlike exercises and which is not suitable for peacetime civilian uses will be promptly destroyed or scrapped. The following specific exemptions to this general policy of destruction will be made in the cases of:

a. Unique and new development items desired for examination or research.

b. Enemy equipment which may be required by the designated commander for his operational needs.

15. Enemy equipment, which is not essentially or exclusively for use in war or warlike exercises and which is suitable for peacetime civilian uses will be retained. This equipment may be drawn upon for:

a. The maintenance and subsistence of the occupational forces, prisoners of war, and displaced persons of the United Nations;

b. The relief of the local civil population to the extent necessary to prevent or alleviate epidemic or serious disease and serious unrest or disorder which would endanger the occupying forces and the objectives of occupation.

16. Unless otherwise specifically directed, the designated commander will make no distribution of enemy equipment to any of the United Nations.

17. The designated commander will maintain a record of the location, type, quantity, condition and disposition of all enemy equipment.

a. Seized and retained, and

b. Seized and destroyed.

B. Special Instructions Pertaining to Aircraft, Aeronautical Equipment and Facilities

18. All practicable measures will be taken to prevent the use of aircraft as a means of escape of individuals or evacuation of property.

19. All military and civil aircraft, and aircraft replacement parts, components and equipment including armament, bombs and missiles will be destroyed except those which the designated commander believes merit special examination and which he orders secured and held for such examination.

20. Control will be taken of all Japanese and Japanese-controlled aircraft communications; signal, warning and detection systems; radar and radio direction and range finding systems; and, in general, any other systems relating or accessory to the operation of aircraft. These systems and their equipment will be destroyed except those which the designated commander orders secured and held for special examination or for use by the forces of occupation.

C. Special Instructions Pertaining to Naval Graft, Naval Equipment and Facilities

21. All former United Nations naval craft, equipment and facilities found in Japanese possession will be safeguarded pending further instructions.

22. All Japanese mine-sweepers will be disarmed. The Japanese Imperial High Command will be required to maintain such complements and equipment as may be necessary for sweeping navigational channels and such other waters as may be prescribed. Other naval craft and equipment considered particularly useful for removing, rendering safe, or clearly marking other obstacles to safe navigation and for reinstating aids to navigation may be retained if directed by the designated commander.

22. Ante, p. 539.
23. Printed as annex to this memorandum.