GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS

APO 500
26 August 1947

AG 311.1 (26 Aug 47) CCS
(SCAPIN-1768)

MEMORANDUM FOR	JAPANESE GOVERNMENT.
THROUGH	Central Liaison Office, Tokyo.
SUBJECT	International Mail Service.

1. Rescissions. The following Memorandums for the Japanese Government rescinded effective 28 August 1947:
a. SCAPIN 1177, file AG 311.1 (5 Sept 46) CCS, dated 5 September 1946, subject: Resumption of International Postal Service between Japan and all other Countries except Germany.
b. SCAPIN 1432, file AG 311.1 (2 Jan 47) CCS, dated 2 January 1947, subject: Expansion of International Postal Service between Japan and All Other Countries.
2. Effective Date. Effective 28 August 1947 International Postal Service between Japan and all other countries will operate in accordance with instructions embodied herein.
3. Letters and Postal Cards. Letters and Postal Cards containing personal and family messages; and business, financial, commercial, and transactional correspondence are mailable to and from Japan, subject to the following prohibitions:
a. Messages which transfer currency, checks, drafts, payment orders, or other credit or financial instruments.
b. Messages which relate to the conversion, transfer, or disguising of any Japanese external assets by powers of attorney, proxies, instructions, or other means intended to defeat SCAP regulations regarding foreign exchange or the conversion of external assets.
c. Messages which grant or transfer translation, reproduction, performance or other rights concerning books, articles, plays, music, motion pictures, or other media of information and expression, and messages relating in any way to patents or copyrights except for description and explanation of the authorized channels and procedures for handling such matters and except for acknowledgment of rights arranged through the authorized channels.
4. Commercial Papers. Commercial Papers as defined by the Universal Postal Union Standards and Limitations are mailable to and from Japan, with the following exceptions:
a. Scores or sheets of music in manuscript.
b. Manuscripts of works or newspapers sent separately.
c. All papers of legal procedure.
d. Documents of all kinds drawn up by Ministerial officers.
5. Prints. The mailing of Prints, as defined by the Universal Postal Union Standards and Limitations, is restricted to the following specific categories:
a. Photographs - (To and from Japan)
b. Drawings - (To and from Japan)
c. Plans - (To and from Japan)
d. Maps - (To and from Japan)
e. Patterns - (To and from Japan)
f. Catalogues - (To and from Japan)
g. Scientific and professional publications as may be approved by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers - (From Japan only)
6. Samples and Small Packets. These classifications of mail matter, as defined by the Universal Postal Union Convention, are mailable to and from Japan.
7. Air Mail.
a. Letters and postal cards within weight limits prescribed by Universal Postal Union Regulations and Limitations, but subject to all restrictions set out herein covering ordinary mail, are mailable to and from Japan.
b. Transportation of International air mail both to and from Japan will be by Commercial Carriers only. Air mail destined to Japan will be dispatched in pouches labeled to Tokyo only.
8. Parcel Post.
a. Parcel Post Service will be to Japan only.
Parcels will be limited to twenty-two pounds in weight, and contents will be restricted to relief items such as non-perishable foods, mailable medicines in non-commercial quantities, soap, clothing and other relief items, in quantities which reasonably can be used by the addressee and/or his immediate family. The following specific limitations apply to each parcel:
(1) Only one of the following tobacco items can be included in a single parcel: Cigarettes—not more than 200 pieces; cigars - not more than 50 pieces; pipe tobaco - not more than one-half pound.
(2) Not more than 200 saccharine tablets in a single parcel.
b. Gift articles, as distinguished from relief items, such as watches, fountain pens, etc., will not be permitted entry.
c. Only one relief parcel per week may be mailed by any single sender to any one addressee.
d. Relief parcels which are undeliverable will not be returned to senders but will be turned over to designated relief agencies for disposition.
e. Excessive quantities of permitted items; that is, quantities in excess of the reasonable needs of the addressee and/or his immediate family, will be extracted by the Japanese Customs Service and delivered to the appropriate agency of the Eighth Army for distribution to recognized relief agencies.
9. Censorship or Customs Inspection. Incoming and outgoing International mails will be made available for censorship or customs inspection in accordance with instructions issued by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.
10. Governing Regulations.
a. The regular-mail service, embracing letters, postal cards, commercial papers, prints, samples and small packets, as authorized, will We governed by the provisions of the Universal Postal Union Convention.
b. Parcel post service, as authorized, will be operated by the Japanese Government under the terms of the Universal Postal Union Parcel Post Agreement, or bilateral or other agreements in effect between Japan and the respective countries at the time service was suspended.
c. The maintenance of records under the conditions of the Universal Postal Union Convention and the terms of the various bilateral parcel post agreements, and the preparation of the necessary accounts for settlement, will be the responsibility of the Japanese Government.
d. Amounts due Japan from other countries in the operation of the International Postal Service will be deposited in the United States Treasury Trust Fund Account, “Deposits, Proceeds of Remittances to and Exports from Occupied Areas,” Symbol 218905.1 Japan. Payments due from Japan on International postal service operation will be made from that trust fund account upon recommendation of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.
e. Statements of accounts showing amounts due Japan will be prepared under the direction of the Ministry of Communications and certified to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.
f. International surface mail will be dispatched from Japan on vessels of Japanese or any other registration except German.
g. Articles of International mail addressed in Japanese, Korean, or Chinese characters must have an interlined address written in Roman characters if such articles are addressed for delivery in countries other than Korea, China, and the Ryukyu Islands.
11. Operational Correspondence,
a. Form notices, bulletins of verification, inquiries, quarterly statements of terminal credits, and all other correspondence necessary in the operation of the International postal service as required by the Universal Postal Union Convention and bilateral parcel post agreements will be prepared by the Japanese Ministry of Communications and deliverd unsealed to the Civil Communications Section, General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers for examination, proper indorsement, and transmission. Indorsements on such communications will read “Authorized by SCAP for transmission through International mail channels”.
b. Direct communication between the Civil Communications Section and other staff sections of General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and the Ministry of Communications is authorized concerning all matters within the scope of this memorandum.

FOR THE SUPREME COMMANDER:

R.M. LEVY,
Colonel, AGD,
Adjutant General.