JAPAN: Plain Speaking

One of Douglas MacArthur’s first occupation acts was to grant Japanese workers the right to organize and bargain collectively. Last week he warned them not to abuse the privilege.

The Supreme Commander was annoyed because strikes were tying up vital communications and public utilities. He suspected that Communist-tinged unions especially those affiliated with the clangorous Congress of International Unions (Japan’s C.I.O.), were using their privileges to sabotage the occupation. When a seamen’s walkout at Sasebo halted the sailing of five merchant ships which were to bring repatriates from the Ryukyu Islands and Manchuria, MacArthur decided it was time for plain speaking. He directed the Japanese Government to man and operate the ships and take necessary steps to prevent further walkouts. The Government was to carry out these orders “without the use of police force”; if this was impossible, occupation forces would step in.

Warned MacArthur’s headquarters: “Strikes, walkouts or other work stoppages which are inimical to the objective of the military occupation are prohibited.”

Promptly the Sasebo strikers scrambled back aboard their ships. The All-Japan Seamen’s Union assured the Supreme Commander that there would be no further interference with repatriation shipping. To date, 4,500,000 Japanese have been repatriated from the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.