Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI, Part 1

794.00/4–1151: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser to SCAP (Sebald) to the Secretary of State

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Tokyo, April 11, 1951.
[Received 9:06 a. m.]

Topad 1788. Immediately upon receipt Deptel 1452, Apr 11¹ I called upon Yoshida and informed him of substance Dept’s instruction. Prime Min was visibly shaken and said that departure General MacArthur wld come as tremendous shock to Jap people. He added he feels personally indebted to MacArthur to whose guidance he attributes his political success and to whose influence he attributes preservation of Emperor institution. He said that he had discussed matter with his colleagues (Yoshida had been host to large garden party this afternoon) and that he had made an appointment to see Emperor tomorrow morning. I then told Yoshida on my personal responsibility that I hoped he and his cabinet wld not consider that rule of traditional “responsibility” applied in this case as it was in my opinion essential that Cabinet carry on particularly during the initial period of General Ridgway’s take-over in order that Jap people cld take their guidance and leadership from govt. Yoshida gave me his assurance that govt wld carry on and expressed his great appreciation at information which I brought to him. He said that with an absolute majority in the Diet and the probability that Liberal Party will be successful in forthcoming local elections there appeared no reason why govt shld not feel secure. He also said that he wld convey gist of conversation to Emperor and confidentially to members of his Cabinet and felt that they wld be greatly heartened to learn that US cooperative policy towards Japan and formulation peace treaty remains unchanged.

Sebald

1. In this telegram the Department had in part instructed Mr. Sebald to call on the Prime Minister and inform him that the relief of General MacArthur in no way denoted or implied any change whatsoever in the Japanese or Far Eastern policy of the U.S., which was determined to conclude a peace treaty “as soon as possible on the basis already discussed.” (794.00/4–1151) Earlier on April 11 the President had relieved General MacArthur from his posts as SCAP, CINCFE, and CINCUNC, and appointed Lt. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway to all three commands. Documentation on General MacArthur’s relief is scheduled for publication in volume vii.