THE PEACE IN PREPARATION
• • • THE PEACE IN PREPARATION . . . THE total demobilization of the Japanese military machine—which only a few short years ago had held Allied Powers at bay all through the Pacific— was...
...First came the announcement that the Allied Powers controlling Germany have confiscated the entire holdings of the monstrous I. G. Farbenindiistrie, the vast industrial empire whose 300 plants contributed so substantially to the Nazi military effort...
...Vernengo Lima to the controlling posts in the new cabinet...
...THE PEACE IN PREPARATION . . . THE total demobilization of the Japanese military machine—which only a few short years ago had held Allied Powers at bay all through the Pacific— was triumphantly proclaimed by Gen...
...American correspondents in Buenos Aires were cautious in passing immediate judgment on the new government, pointing out that this was still very much an Army-Navy show and that the modest con-cessions made thus far were intended to calm public opinion and diminish the frequency and violence of mass demonstrations...
...The clash between the "Indonesian People's Army," composed of native guerrillas and nationalists of the East Indies, and Dutch imperial forces threatened to flare into full-scale warfare this week...
...In two rich, strategic areas of the Orient—the Dutch East Indies and French-dominated Indo-China—native populations were rising in armed revolt against their Western colonial masters...
...Britain until they had reversed some of their present policies...
...Two developments of the past week showed how anxious American authorities are to appease Russia on this issue...
...This statement came as U. S. correspondents in Tokyo quoted "reliable sources" as indicating that MacArthur would resign rather than divide responsibility with an Allied Control Commission...
...However, Secretary of State James F. Byrnes, in effect, rejected the Soviet demands when he invited the Allies principally interested in the Far East to send delegates to Washington to establish a proposed Allied Advisory Commission which would formulate recommendations for the control of Japan...
...Britain's bid for a $5,000,000,000 "loan" from the United States cleared its first major hurdle last week when the U. S. economic delegation agreed that five billions is the amount that should be made available...
...In commenting on the extraordinary speed and precision with which the Japanese military machine has now been abolished, MacArthur said he knew of "no demobilization in history either in war or in peace by our own or by any other country that has been accomplished so rapidly or so without friction...
...Gen...
...The Congressmen suggested that 1) the Soviet Union adopt an "open door" attitude toward American technicians and the press, 2) Britain unlock trade barriers "inimical" to American interests, 3) Germany be reconstructed, without armaments, of course, so it can feed itself and in time again become a factor in U. S. trade, and 4) the U. S. expand field forces handling disposal of billions in surplus property abroad...
...Herein lies the way to true and final peace...
...See Irving Pflaum's article, Page 5.) Revolt In The Colonies While these giantstrides were being taken toward the democratization and demilitarization of Japan, Soviet Russia was maneuvering for a toe-hold in Nippon and demanding participation in the control of Japan...
...Byrnes made it clear that there is no intention of altering MacArthur's status as supreme commander...
...In Paris, Minister of Colonies Paul Giaccobi, referring to "a vast anti-colonial current flowing throughout the world," blamed France's troubles in Indo-China on foreign support for independence movements...
...Douglas Mac-Arthur in an historic radio speech to the world this week...
...European Notes: Britain's Labor Cabinet presented to the House of Commons a bill providing for the nationalization of the Bank of England and revealed that it is almost ready with its program for the nationalization of the coal mining industry...
...It will take much time and require great patience, but if world opinion will permit it from these two essential factors, mankind will be repaid...
...Eduardo Avalos and Vice Adm...
...Dwight D. Eisenhower, commander of the U. S. forces in the European theater, defended the great bulk of the occupation work done in Germany under his command and expressed resentment at newspaper criticism which took issue with his policies...
...The general conceded that "we expect to have a low-ering of efficiency as a result of denazification and we are prepared for that," but added that the American policy would, in the long run, "give the Germans a chance to dig themselves out of the gutter...
...They could so easily—and understandably— have emulated the ruthlessness their enemy freely practiced when conditions were reversed— but their perfect balance between implacable firmness and duty on the one hand and resolute restraint from cruelness and brutalities on the other has taught a lesson to the Japanese civil population that is startling in its impact...
...Mao Tze-tung, leader of the Communist group, said the "outlook is optimistic," and Chiang Kai-shek also expressed hope that outstanding issues, many of them of a grave and basic character, would be settled soon without further violence...
...Pierre Laval, who" led the French intrigue which resulted in close collaboration with Nazi Germany, was executed as a traitor to France this week after failing to cheat the* firing squad by swallowing poison...
...and ordered President Farrell to approve all their orders or have his "resignation" accepted at a moment's notice...
...The heartening picture of progress in Japan was in sharp contrast to developments elsewhere in Asia...
...Such a commission would sit in Washington and draft suggestions—in contrast to the Russian insistence on an Allied Control Commission which would sit in Tokyo and run MacArthur...
...Chiang agreed in principle to end the one-party rule of his Kuonuntang, make all political parties equal before the law, disband his special political police, restore freedom of speech and other civil liberties, and submit the question of overhauling the Chinese government to a council in which all political parties would be repreShakeup In Argentina The most dramatic political developments of the week in the Western Hemisphere occurred again in Argentina where the ruling army clique fired Juan Peron as Vice President, War Minister, and Secretary of Labor and Social Security, and directed President Edel-miro Farrell to appoint Gen...
...Reporting to the House of Commons last week, Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin politely but firmly placed blame for the collapse of the Conference of Foreign Ministers on Soviet Russia's Foreign Commissar V. M. Molotov...
...At the same time the Allied Control Commission formally proclaimed the abolition of the National Socialist Party and the network of Nazi bureaus and subdivisions which dominated every phase of German life in the Hitler era...
...The properties will be taken over for reparations or "for such disposal as the Allies see fit...
...In an effort to placate the populace, the new Argentine bosses reopened three leading universities, reinstated professors fired by the Peron regime, and announced that complete freedom of the press has been restored...
...Strife Over Germany In Europe this week the aftermath of the London Conference fiasco shared headlines with continued strife over American and Allied policies in occupied Germany...
...The American delegation appeared to be insisting, however, that the "loan" should take the form of a dollar credit in the TJ...
...In a desperate attempt to check the spreading fire, Dr...
...A special House investigating committee returned from a tour of Europe to recommend that the U. S. withhold loans to Russia and...
...They have for the first time seen a free man's way of life in actual action and it has stunned them into new thoughts and new ideas...
...Equally unique, he pointed out, was the fact that "not a shot was necessary and not a drop of Allied blood was shed" in the process of requiring 7,000,000 armed Japanese to lay down their weapons...
...The news was somewhat more encouraging in China...
...The radio address by MacArthur climaxed a week of extraordinary activity in pressing for political and economic democracy in Japan—a week which saw sweeping reforms introduced for the extension of civil and political liberty and the development of a democratic trade union movement...
...The Laborite leader, however, expressed confidence that "given time and a continuance of patience and understanding, the Big Powers would overcome present divergencies" and work out the foundations for" a stable peace...
...There was bloody fighting in both areas as the French fired on Annamese in Indo-China and the Dutch fought the Javanese in the Indies...
...France, he said, intends to give five Indo-China states the status of a semi-autonomous federation, but has no intention of permitting full freedom...
...Pointing to press suggestions that he was pursuing a "softer" policy in Germany than was laid down at the Potsdam Conference, Eisenhower declared that the Army under his command would "uproot Nazism in every shape and form" and that any American officer who did not put his all into the denazification program would be transferred to another assignment...
...S. to be drawn against only as Britain needs it, and not in the form of an outright grant, as originally asked by the British...
...Nothing has so tended to impress Japanese thought, not even the catastrophic fact of military defeat itself...
...Hubertus Van Mook, lieutenant governor of the Dutch East Indies, offered to negotiate a truce with Indonesian rebellion leaders...
...One of the newer stumbling blocks on the road to Anglo-American cooperation with Russia was very much in the news during the past week...
...A revolution, or more properly speaking an evolution, which will restore the dignity and freedom of the common man has begun...
...The settlement would be based on a pledge given by Holland in 1942 to give the Indies freedom in internal affairs within the Dutch Commonwealth...
...MacArthur praised the "magnificent conduct" of American troops as a stirring example of "the free man's way of life...
...Soviet spokesmen have expressed bitter opposition to a report of American economic experts in Germany which opposed the dismantling of German industry as economically unsound not only for Germany but for all Europe...
...These two new "strong men" promptly shook up the military high command, fired provincial governors appointed by Peron...
...Moscow commentators, who want German industrial machines shipped to Russia as reparations, branded the report as an attempt to preserve "the military and economic might of Germany" by encouraging the restoration of German industry...
...Spokesmen for Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist group and the Chinese Communists issued a joint communique after a lengthy conference announcing that they had agreed on basic principles of internal political peace and had decided to shunt a host of unresolved issues to a representative committee...
...Eisenhower Gets Bitter In a statement which exhibited more bitterness than he has hitherto displayed publicly, Gen...
Vol. 9 • October 1945 • No. 42
