740.00119 Control (Japan)/3–1446
Mr. Max W. Bishop, of the Office of the Political Adviser in Japan, to the Secretary of State
[Received March 26.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to this Office’s telegram no. 212, December 17, 194536 raising certain questions in regard to SWNCC draft [Page 178] directive 192/3, November 28, 1945,37 concerning the exercise of criminal and civil jurisdiction over United Nations nationals in Japan.
There are transmitted copies of two directives38 of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to the Japanese Government dated February 19 and 26, 1946, concerning the exercise of criminal and civil jurisdiction respectively over United Nations nationals in Japan. There is also enclosed a press release of the Public Relations Office, SCAP, dated February 19, 1946, describing the operation of the military occupation courts established by the directive of that date.
These directives are presumably in implementation of the SWNCC directive referred to above. It is apparent, however, that certain questions raised in telegram no. 212, such as the exact status of jurisdiction over Formosans, Koreans and neutral foreigners, remain obscure.
The policy set forth by these directives appears to have caused considerable discussion in private Japanese circles, with some members of the Japanese legal profession calling attention to the extraterritoriality aspects. However, the Japanese press has contented itself with purely factual reporting and no editorial comment has come to the attention of this Office.
Respectfully yours,
Foreign Service Officer
- Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. vi, p. 885.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Enclosures not printed.↩