I give Our sanction to the Imperial Ordinance concerning the special instances of the right of criminal justice etc. pertaining to the orders to be issued in accordance with the Potsdom Declaration given is the Imperial Ordinance No. 542 in the 20th year of Showa and hereby cause the same to be promulgated.
Signed: Hirohito, Seal of the Emperor
This fourteenth day of the fifth month of the twenty-first year of Showa (14 May, 1946)
Countersigned: Baron Kijuro Shidehara Prime Minister
Chuzo Iwata Minister of Justice
Imperial Ordinance No. 274 "Exceptional Provisions with respect to Criminal Affairs issued under Imperial Ordinance No. 542, 1945 concerning Orders to be issued in consequence of the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration".
Art. 1. Regardless of the provisions of Article 292 Paragraph 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, public prosecution may be waived at any time, with reference to the following criminal cases.
a. Crimes committed by United Nations Nationals (including juridical persons belonging to United Nations).
b. Acts prejudicial to the security and interest of the Occupation Forces or any member thereof, or any persons attached to or accompanying such forces, as well as acts prejudicial to the aims of occupation.
Art. 2. A Chief of Prison shall detain persons designated by the Military Occupation Courts of the Allied Forces, for imprisonment or for specified alternative imprisonment in lieu of payment of fines, in accordance with the direction of such courts.
In the treatment of those persons who have been detained for imprisonment or for a specified alternative imprisonment in lieu of payment of fines under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the provisions of the Prison Law shall be applied mutatis mutandis except in those cases where the courts direct otherwise.
Supplementary Provision:
The present Ordinance shall come into force as from the day of its promulgation.