890.0146/14
The Joint Chiefs of
Staff to the Secretary of State
Washington, 14 May,
1944.
My Dear Mr. Secretary: A copy of the
“Assumptions for Planning for Civil Affairs for the Period of
Military Occupation,” as prepared by the Civil Affairs Division of
the War Department and concurred in by the Department of State, and
as amended and approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is enclosed
for information.
Sincerely yours,
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
A. J. McFarland
Colonel, U.S.A. Secretary
[Enclosure]
Assumptions for Planning for Civil Affairs
for the Period of Military Occupation
- 1.
- In the four main islands of Japan proper and the southern
half of Sakhalin (Karafuto) planning for the administration
of civil affairs shall be a U.S. responsibility pending a
determination of other United Nations interests,
particularly those of the Soviet Union as regards Southern
Sakhalin.
- 2.
- In the Philippine Islands administration of civil affairs
shall be a U.S. responsibility.51
- 3.
- In India civil affairs administration is not considered to
be the responsibility of the United States.
- 4.
- In Burma, Malaya and Thailand administration of civil
affairs is not considered to be the responsibility of the
United States except that if United States forces are
employed, the extent of United States civil affairs
administration shall be a matter of recommendation to the
Joint Chiefs of Staff by the United States commander
concerned.52
- 5.
- In Sumatra the administration of civil affairs is not
considered to be the responsibility of the United States,
except that if U.S. forces are employed, the extent of U.S.
civil affairs administration shall be a matter of
recommendation to the Joint Chiefs of Staff by the U.S.
commander concerned. It is considered that during the course
of any U.S. participation Dutch personnel will be used in
the beachhead and combat zones to the extent permitted by
the exigencies of the military situation and that total
administration will be Dutch as soon as military expediency
permits.
- 6.
- In Manchuria the administration of civil affairs is not
considered to be the responsibility of the United States,
except that if U.S. forces are employed the extent of U.S.
civil affairs administration shall be a
[Page 1262]
matter of recommendation to
the Joint Chiefs of Staff by the U.S. commander
concerned.
- 7.
- In Korea (Chosen) planning for the administration of civil
affairs shall be a U.S. responsibility pending a
determination of other United Nations’ interests,
particularly those of the Soviet Union and China.
- 8.
- In China, in combat zones occupied by forces under United
States command, the United States should be prepared to
undertake such affairs of civil administration as are beyond
the capacity of the Chinese to perform to the satisfaction
of the U.S. commander.
- 9.
- In the Netherlands Indies (exclusive of Sumatra) civil
affairs administration shall be the responsibility of the
United States except in so far as strategic developments may
result in assignment of certain areas for operational
responsibility to other United Nations’ forces. In so far as
the United States is concerned, it is contemplated that
Dutch personnel will be used in operational areas to the
extent permitted by the exigencies of the military situation
and that total administration will be Dutch as soon as
military expediency permits.
- 10.
- In Portuguese Timor civil affairs responsibility shall be
initially that of the United States but will be Portuguese
as soon as military expediency permits.
- 11.
- In Sarawak, Brunei, and British North Borneo, primary
responsibility for civil affairs shall rest with the
British.
- 12.
- In the Marianas, (including Guam), Carolines, Marshalls,
Bonins, and Kuriles civil affairs administration shall
continue the responsibility of the United States Navy as
provided by J.C.S. 250/5.
- 13.
- In the Pescadores, Loochoos (Nansei), and such other small
islands in the general vicinity of the Bonins and Formosa,
as may be under military control, civil affairs
administration shall be the responsibility of the United
States Navy.
- 14.
- The responsibility for over-all planning for civil affairs
administration in Formosa will remain with the Navy. Such
plans, however, will recognize that in practice the
administration of civil affairs in Formosa to a large extent
will be delegated or otherwise assigned to and performed by
the Army.
