GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS

APO 500
9 December 1946

AG 400.703 (9 Dec 46) ESS/FT
(SCAPIN-1384)

MEMORANDUM FOR	IMPERIAL JAPANESE GOVERNMENT.
THROUGH	Central Liaison Office, Tokyo.
Subject	Surplus United States Government Property to be Purchased by the Imperial Japanese Government.

1. Reference is made to the contract on sale of surplus property signed 22 November 1946 between the Office of the Foreign Liquidation Commission and the Imperial Japanese Government. The Imperial Japanese Government will take steps to see that the following regulations concerning marking, registration and utilization of the surplus property purchased by it are complied with.
2. Tents, clothing, soap and other similar supplies will be rationed at official prices according to plans which will be submitted to General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (Attn: Price Control and Rationing Division, Economic and Scientific Section) for approval. All such items other than soap will be clearly marked or dyed so as to be distinguishable from U. S. military supplies before distribution is made by the Imperial Japanese Government.
3. Medical, dental, veterinary and sanitary supplies and equipment will be distributed in such a manner as to insure equitable allocation and efficient utilization in the medical care and treatment of the civilian population. A plan covering distribution of these supplies will be submitted to General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (Attn: Public Health and Welfare Section) for approval prior to such distribution. The plan will make provisions for:
a. Adequate facilities for transportation, warehousing and safeguarding until delivered to the jurisdiction of designated distributing agencies.
b. Expeditious delivery to distribution agencies.
c. Control of distribution agencies to obviate the possibility of release through unauthorized channels.
d. Maintenance of sufficient records to provide:
(1) Accurate information on national and regional levels of stock on hand available for distribution.
(2) A check on the integrity of distribution channels.
e. Adequate price control.
4. Engineering equipment will be used for essential purposes only, according to plans which will be submitted to General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powoers (Attn: Industry Division, Economic and Scientific Section) for approval. All insignia and unit markings appearing on the equipment will be completely obliterated. The Imperial Japanese Government will submit to the Office of the Provost Marshal, Eighth Army, in duplicate, an original listing of the makers’ names, serial numbers, as well as descriptions of this equipment as given on Vendor’s Shipping Documents. All wheeled vehicles included in this engineering equipment will be provided with license plates and vehicle registration certificates by the Imperial Japanese Government, and two copies of each vehicle registration certificate will be forwarded to the Provost Marshal, Eighth Army.
5. Trucks and trailers will be operated by established agencies, governmental, prefectural and municipal, charged with the responsibility of promoting public health, safety and welfare, reconstruction and rehabilitation of devastated areas, and distribution of food, clothing, fuel and such other essential commodities as are required for the prevention of disease and unrest among the civilian population. Title to all vehicles will be retained by the Imperial Japanese Government. These vehicles will not be used by the government for the purpose of competing with private enterprises. In cases where suitable public agencies do not exist for the accomplishment of the objectives mentioned above, the government may lease equipment to private operators such arrangements to be subject to prior approval of General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. Plans covering the distribution and use of these trucks and trailers will be submitted to General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (Attn: Transportation Section) for approval prior to such distribution.
6. Marking and registration of trucks and trailers will conform to the following:
a. The U. S. vehicle registration numbers, insignia (symbols), bumper markings and any other painted markings will be obliterated. A straight white line four (4) inches wide will be painted over the hood and front mudguards of each truck and horizontally around the body of each trailers, as an easy visual means of identifying these vehicles. The white line will be centrally placed. License plates, 16 1/2” x 6 - 3/4”, with light green background, will be affixed in front and in back of each vehicle. At the upper left hand corner of the plate will appear the Japanese prefectural symbol, and in the lower right hand corner the name of the prefecture in English lettering. The license plate numbar will be four (4) inches high and in accordance with the Japanese registration system (sea inclosure no. 1). The number and the markings will be embossed on the plate in black.
b. The Imperial Japanese Government will submit to the Provost Marshal, Eighth Army, an original listing in duplicate of the engine serial numbers and body serial numbers of the vehicles, and one numerical list of the serial numbers of all tires (those that come with the vehicles and those purchased separately). A vehicle registration certificate will be issued by the Imperial Japanese Government for each vehicle, after necessary overhauling and repairs have been effected and the vehicle is ready to be put into service. The certificate will mention type, cargo capacity, wheel base, number of engine cylinders, motor serial number and body serial number. The original of the certificate will be handed to the vehicle operating entity and carried by the driver at all times during operation of the vehicle; two copies will be forwarded to the Provost Marshal, Eighth Army.
c. The vehicles will be deadlined by the Imperial Japanese Government until the necessary marking and registration described in paragraphs 6a and 6b have been carried out.

FOR THE SUPREME COMMANDER:

JOHN B. COOLEY,
Colonel, AGD,
Adjutant General.

1 Incl: List of License Plate Numbers for Surplus Vehicles