894.00/4–348: Airgram
The Acting Political Adviser in Japan (Sebald) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 8—9:51 a. m.]
A–66. For the Department’s information, there follows the text of a press release issued by the Public Information Office, General Headquarters, Far East Command on April 1, 1948:
“Brig. Gen. Courtney Whitney, Chief of SCAP’s Government Section, has pointed out that the purge program, while fully consistent [Page 722] with the purposes of the Japanese Government and people in charting a democratic future, is one of the direct requirements of the Potsdam Declaration. As such, final action taken thereunder is regarded to be of a permanent nature for which the Allied powers will unquestionably hold future Japanese governments fully responsible.”