740.00119 FEAC/9–3046
Memorandum by the Acting Chief of the Division of Japanese Affairs (Borton) to the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent)
1. Far Eastern Commission
No change in items previously referred to (A, B, C, D).
[Page 323]E. Possible Maintenance of Japanese Land, Sea and Air Forces Under Article IX of Japanese Draft Constitution.5
Lt. Col. Dupuy, U.S. member of Committee No. 7 to which the resolution on this subject was referred, states that at the meeting of the committee on September 26, the Chinese and Australian representatives both stated that, in view of the expected amendment to the Constitution to provide for civilian Cabinet ministers, further consideration of Article IX might be postponed. The Committee then voted unanimously to table the resolution with the understanding that they would continue to exercise vigilance over developments in Japan which might affect this matter. It is not likely therefore that Article IX will be discussed again in the immediate future. It would seem that the attitude of the United States should be that the demilitarization and demobilization of Japan depend upon agreement among the Allied Powers rather than upon the Japanese Constitution, which may later be amended by the Japanese themselves. Regardless of the wording of Article IX, determination of Japan’s military establishment must be left to the peace treaty and to such international agreements as the proposed 25 year Disarmament Treaty. As Committee No. 7 does not expect to take further action on the question at present JA is postponing preparing the paper on this subject mentioned in Report # 2.6
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