GENERAL HEADQUARTERS SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS
APO 500
13 August 1946
Information of General Application pertaining to Directive Number (SCAPIN-1132), file AG 387.6 (13 Aug 46) ESS/IN dtd 13 Aug 1946, subject: "Reparations Selections within the Sulfuric Acid Industry."
1. With reference to Memorandum Number (SCAPIN-1132), from the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to the Imperial Japanese Government, the following is published for the information of all concerned.
2. The purpose of issuing the attached letter to the Imperial Japanese Government and accompanying letter to the Commanding General, Eighth United States Army is to insure availability for interim reparations removals of listed facilities in the best possible condition.
3. Seized facilities should be permitted to operate in order to prevent any temporary disruption of the production of such important items as fertilizers, drugs and artificial sweeteners; however, a gradual shift must occur in the use of sulfuric acid facilities, from designated units to equipment which the Japanese will retain. Some of the latter equipment requires repair, and such repair should be encouraged, but not when it is of such extensive a nature that it constitutes virtual rebuilding. It is contemplated that detailed instructions covering the shift from seized to retained plants, and especially the degree of rebuilding to be permitted, will be issued by this headquarters at a later date. It is estimated that the length of time required to take seized plants out of operation will average about three months, but this will vary considerably from plant to plant depending on stocks of raw materials on hand, local demands for the product, and similar factors.
4. Removal of factory facilities not a part of the contact sulfuric acid sets should not be discouraged, as this may be required as part of the shift away from use of the seized sets.
5. It is emphasized that when any of this equipment is shut down the Japanese should be required to take special precautions to avoid damage which may result from corrosive action of some of the material handled in the equipment. The units should be thoroughly purged of all corrosive gases before disassembly, and corrosive materials should be carefully removed before packaging of the equipment.
6. In two factories (Nissin Kagaku, Niihama factory and Toyo Koatsu, Sunagawa factory) removal of only part of the contact sulfuric acid capacity is contemplated. Each of these factories will be allowed to retain sufficient acid capacity to maintain a balanced plant at a capacity level to be announced later by this headquarters. In these plants, all contact sets should be taken into custody until such time as the specific sets to be removed are designated.
7. A letter of command instructions pertaining to the execution of the subject memorandum follows through command channels.
/s/ A. J. Rehe
/t/ R. G. HERSEY,
Lt. Col., AGD,
Asst. Adj. General.
Distribution same as (SCAPIN-1132) less Imperial Japanese Government.
MEMO FOR RECORD : (SCAPIN - 1132)
JZR/CDH/frg
9 August 1946
1. WARCOC radio W 89351, 28 May 46 directs SCAP to designate for interim reparations all sulphuric acid manufacturing capacity in excess of 3.5 million metric tons, and specifies that equipment made available should be of the contact type not serving as integral functional units in:
a. A non-ferrous smelting plant.
b. A fertilizer manufacturing establishment in which the contact process plant is not supported by a lead chamber plant of at least equivalent capacity.
2. a. In complying with the above qualifications imposed by Washington upon the selection of sulphuric acid plants, the attached directive makes all plants available for claim in excess of an annual capacity of some 3, 930, 000 metric tons. Although this does not comply completely with the extent of removals authorized by Washington, additional removals can be made by later directive, at which time the present sensitive fertilizer production situation may be expected to have stabilized. Tab 1 discusses in detail the application of the Washington plant to the Japanese sulphuric acid facilities.
b. Tab 2 discusses the effect of the proposed removals on important products of the Japanese economy.
3. By Memorandum IJG is directed to place the specified sulphuric acid sets under custody and control of SCAP.
a. The provisions of the memorandum specify the steps to be taken and the conditions to be met in taking the listed equipment under custody and control.
4. No concurrence is required.
5. Military surveillance will be undertaken by Eighth Army in compliance with instructions issued in the command letter on this subject.
J. Z. R.