Protecting the Emperor Douglas MacArthur

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macarthur , emperor of japan, hirohito, @ first meeting, september 1945


macarthur took view few militarist extremists had hijacked japan starting in 1931 mukden incident, emperor pro-western moderate had been powerless stop militarists, , bore no responsibility of war crimes committed japanese between 1931 , 1945. american historian herbert p. bix described relationship between general , emperor as: allied commander use emperor, , emperor cooperate in being used. relationship became 1 of expediency , mutual protection, of more political benefit hirohito macarthur because hirohito had more lose–the entire panoply of symbolic, legitimizing properties of imperial throne .


at same time, macarthur had attacked imperial mystique when staff released famous picture of first meeting emperor, impact on japanese public electric japanese people first time saw emperor mere man overshadowed taller macarthur instead of living god had been portrayed as. 1945, emperor had been remote, mysterious figure people, seen in public , silent, photographs taken angle make him taller , more impressive was. no japanese photographer have taken such photo of emperor being overshadowed macarthur. japanese government banned photo of emperor macarthur on grounds damaged imperial mystique, macarthur rescinded ban , ordered of japanese newspapers print it. photo intended message emperor going senior partner in relationship.


as needed emperor, macarthur protected him effort hold accountable actions, , allowed him issue statements incorrectly portrayed emerging democratic post-war era continuation of meiji era reforms. macarthur did not allow investigations of emperor, , instead in october 1945 ordered staff in interests of peaceful occupation , rehabilitation of japan, prevention of revolution , communism, facts surrounding execution of declaration of war , subsequent position of emperor tend show fraud, menace or duress marshalled . in january 1946, macarthur reported washington emperor not indicted war crimes on grounds:



his indictment unquestionably cause tremendous convulsion among japanese people, repercussions of cannot overestimated. symbol unites japanese. destroy him , nation disintegrate...it quite possible million troops required have maintained indefinite number of years.



to protect emperor being indicted, macarthur had 1 of staff, brigadier general bonner fellers tell genrō admiral mitsumasa yonai on 6 march 1946:



to counter situation, convenient if japanese side prove emperor blameless. think forthcoming trials offer best opportunity that. tojo, in particular should made bear responsibility @ trial. want have tojo follows: @ imperial conference prior start of war, decided push war if majesty emperor against going war united states.



from viewpoint of both sides, having 1 evil figure in form of general hideki tojo, on whom went wrong blamed, politically convenient. @ second meeting on 22 march 1946, fellers told admiral yonai recorded interpreter mizota shuichi:



the influential advocate of un-american thought in united states cohen (a jew , communist), top adviser secretary of state byrnes. told yonai... extremely disadvantageous macarthur s standing in united states put on trial emperor cooperating him , facilitating smooth administration of occupation. reason request... wonder whether said admiral yonai other day has been conveyed tojo? .



macarthur s attempts shield emperor indictment , have blame taken general tojo successful, herbert p. bix commented, ...had lasting , profoundly distorting impact on japanese understanding of lost war .








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