HOW BEST BUILD A DEMOCRATIC JAPAN?
Romer, Samuel
How Best Build A Democratic Japan? The Author Might 'Spend Some Time In His Own Backyard' THE FUTURE OF JAPAN, by William C. Johnstone. Oxford University Press. $2. Reviewed by Samuel...
...Moreover, tifcthe degree that the author is insistent upon forcing his proposals upon the Japanese, rather than letting them in their own way reach these goals, it is indicative of a distrust and suspicion of the common people which Johnstone himself would be the first to deny...
...These odds can be reduced if the United Nations adopt positive measures of assistance in the reform of Japan...
...One proposal the author makes deserves careful attention...
...he demands the thorough reform of Japan's social, political, and economic structure, with abolition of the Imperial Throne as the first essential...
...INDEED, Professor Johnstone would perform a more valuable service if he would, as an American, spend some time in his own backyard before beginning on his neighbor's—even if the neighbor is at the moment weak and helpless...
...He seeks not only the disarmament and demobilization of Japan and economic controls as part of the disarmament process...
...Imperialism and economic oppression are not solely Japanese attributes...
...coercive democracy bears as little relation to self-government as does totalitarian liberalism to free speech...
...As such, it can be fairly compared with the official announcement of U. S. policy, radioed to Gen...
...Keenly aware of the danger of unilateral occupation of Japan as symbolic of "white man's imperialism," he suggests the inclusion in the occupation forces of Chinese, Filipino, and other Asiatic soldiers...
...It is an important book because Professor Johnstone represents that influential segment of public opinion which has sought to distinguish itself from the official policy, and which has the concurrence of such a wide variety of American newspapers as PM, the New York Times, and the Daily Worker...
...All this does not mean that Professor Johnstone's proposals (many of them based upon a sound analysis of Japan's problems) are valueless...
...THE key to his entire philosophy is given in his blunt statement: "It is possible that the Japanese people can achieve [reform] for themselves, but the odds are heavy against them...
...it reads: "Changes in the form of government initiated by the Japanese people or-government in the direction of modifying its feudal and authoritarian tendencies are to be permitted and favored...
...A case in point is his strictures against the zaibatsu of Japan, an industrial and commercial group parallel to America's own "60 families...
...indeed, The Future of Japan is published under the Council's auspices...
...This represents, at the very least, a curious lack of faith in the democratic process...
...it is simply that they would make a lot more sense if addressed to the Japanese rather than to the American people...
...The official policy is clear...
...Reviewed by Samuel Romer WRITTEN four months before the surrender, The Future of Japan attempts a blueprint of American occupation policy toward that country...
...The author, who is Dean of the School of Government at George Washington University, is closely associated with the American Council, Institute of Pacific Relations...
...In the event that the effectuation of such changes involves the use of force by the Japanese people or government against persons opposed thereto, the Supreme Commander should intervene only where necessary to ensure the security of his forces...
...MacArthur on Aug...
...Quite obviously, the job of stripping the zaibatsu of their swollen gains and industrial tyranny is strictly that of the Japanese, such as the job of the American people is strictly their own...
...29 and approved by the President Sept...
...By comparison, the official policy, while in accord with Professor Johnstone's proposals of disarmament and demilitarization, rests the responsibility of reform with the Japanese people themselves...
...6. The outline of Professor Johnstone's proposed policy is familiar enough to readers interested in Japan...
...these forces are planned as a kind of powerful umpire charged with the observance of the rules of civil liberties and, through a benevolent neutrality, with allowing the Japanese people to decide their own future...
...Under the official policy, the U. S. occupying forces are not committed either to the support of the Emperor or to his abolition...
Vol. 9 • October 1945 • No. 43
