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d. Shift in Occupation Policies and Recovery of Independence

5-13 Creation of a National Police Reserve

The Korean War broke out on 25 June 1950 (Showa 25). With the urgency of the war situation and the dispatch of numerous American troops who had been stationed in Japan, General MACARTHUR addressed a directive to YOSHIDA Shigeru on 8 July approving the creation of a 75,000-person National Police Reserve in Japan and an 8,000-person expansion for maritime safety. On 10 August the Japanese Government promulgated and put into effect the Police Reserve Act, within the framework of the Potsdam Declaration.

On this point, ASHIDA Hitoshi expressed his concerns that under the current Constitution, the fact that such an important decision had not been made by legislative process would isolate the National Police Reserve and National Diet from each other in the future, rendering any affinity impossible with the people. Also, he wrote of the necessity of making it clear that the National Police Reserve in the future would be considered as army.

Reflections on the Police Reserve

Reflections on the Police Reserve
  • Circa 1951 (Showa 26)
  • Papers of ASHIDA Hitoshi, Document #356
  • National Diet Library (entrusted)

[Douglas MacArthur's Letter to Prime Minister]

[Douglas MacArthur's Letter to Prime Minister]
  • 8 July 1950
  • GHQ/SCAP Records, Government Section, Box No.2194 "Correspondence between General MACARTHUR and Prime Minister - General WHITNEY and Prime Minister" <Sheet No. GS(B) 01751>
  • National Diet Library
  • Microfiche
  • U.S. National Archives (RG331)
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