740.00119 Control (Japan)/9–1845: Telegram
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur to the Chief of Staff (Marshall)1
CA 52048. Your War 65406 distresses me. There was not the faintest thought that my statement as to my personal estimate of the strength of the occupation forces in Japan would cause the slightest embarrassment. The strengths to be maintained in Europe and estimates for this theater have been carried freely in press reports. I was under the heaviest pressure from the press as they reported that President Truman in a late press interview referred them to me as to the time factors involved. In my statement I believed that I was acting in complete conformity with the War Department’s announced policy of demobilizing just as rapidly as conditions permitted. I would appreciate it if you would explain my position to the White House and the State Department.
General Eichelberger’s statement was made entirely on his own responsibility without previous consultation and is at variance with my own.
[Page 719]The reply to your War 57396 and War 64221 is being forwarded at once. It was drafted several days ago but has been delayed pending receipt from Manila of certain detailed computations that we were unable to make here.
- Transmitted to the Acting Secretary of State on September 18 by the Chief of Staff.↩