[Enclosure]
The War
Department to the Department of State
Memorandum Concerning Status of Allied
Occupation Forces for Japan
The British Chiefs of Staff have indicated informally that
they are considering an occupation contingent of three or
four brigades of about 7500 men each. These might be one
brigade from the U.K., one from India, one or two from
Australia and perhaps one from New Zealand. Also, there
might be one from Canada.
The Australians have approached General MacArthur directly on
the matter of an Australian force to serve directly under
his command rather than as part of the British Empire
contingent as it is understood the British envisage.
The Generalissimo has indicated to General Wedemeyer60
that he is considering the provision of a Chinese army of
three divisions (30,000
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men) but this provision will be at
some later time and in a priority below that of forces to
secure liberated areas in China.
The Russians have made no proposals other than their
suggestion at the time of the surrender of the Japanese that
they take over the northern half of Hokkaido.61
In summary, no formal proposals have been made by any of the
Allied powers for provision of occupation forces for Japan.
The United States Chiefs of Staff have indicated formally to
the British that they expect a proposal concerning troops
for Japan and also for Korea. So far as is known, the State
Department has not initiated any conversations with Allied
powers on the subject.
As to the status of U.S. planning, General MacArthur has
stated (1) that there must not be separate Allied “area”
commands, and (2) that if the U.S. is to retain dominance in
the occupation of Japan, at least half of the occupation
forces must remain U.S. On the basis of this, the Planners
have reached the conclusion, and so reported to the Chiefs
of Staff, that we should consider British, Chinese and
U.S.S.R. forces of about 30,000 each. General MacArthur has
further stated he will make firm plans for deploying these
forces when he receives knowledge of their composition,
strength and date of arrival. He envisages a two-area
organization in Japan with a U.S. army corps headquarters in
each area, appropriate Allied elements in each area, and
token forces from each power in Tokyo.
Recognizing that the provision of Allied occupation forces is
a matter for negotiations on a governmental level, the Joint
Staff Planners have presented to the Joint Chiefs of Staff a
proposed memorandum to State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee
on the matter, which is attached.62 The Joint
Chiefs of Staff have not yet approved the paper.63
