GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS

8 December 1945

AG 044 (8 Dec 45) GD
(SCAPIN-404)

MEMORANDUM FOR	THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE GOVERNMENT.
THROUGH	Central Liaison Office, Tokyo.
Subject	Relief and Welfare Plans.

1. Imperial Japanese Government will submit to this headquarters, by 31 December 1945, a detailed and comprehensive plan for providing food, clothing, housing, medical care, financial assistance, and welfare services to unemployed and other needy persons in Japan during the period January - June 1946.
2. The plan will include:
a. A statement of the basis used in calculating requirements;
b. A list, by prefecture, of the estimated number of persons who will monthly require direct assistance because of unemployment, physical incapacity, or other cause of dependency;
c. A description of the local administrative machinery to be used for investigating and meeting relief needs, including a statement of personnel policy;
d. The method of securing supplies, materials, and shelter from the overall sources available to the economy of Japan;
e. Estimated monthly cost of relief by prefecture.
3. It is the intention of this directive to require the development of adequate measures for the care of persons whose financial and/or other resources are inadequate to maintain minimum living standards during the period indicated. The Imperial Japanese Government will inaugurate immediately necessary measures to prevent any person or group of persons in Japan from being discriminated against in the distribution of available supplies because of inability to work, inability to obtain remunerative employment, or for political, religious or economic beliefs.
4. In the event that current relief legislation, appropriations and/or administrative facilities are believed to be inadequate to prevent discrimination against unemployed and other needy persons in the distribution of available supplies, the reply to this memorandum will set forth proposed new legislation, appropriations and/or improved relief administrative facilities which will be developed, with the anticipated date of their inauguration. If the Imperial Japanese Government considers current legislation, appropriations and relief administration adequate to meet probable relief needs during the period stated, the reply will make positive affirmation of this judgment and will cite appropriate references to current legislation, relief regulations and related material.
5. Acknowledgement of the receipt of this memorandum is directed.

FOR THE SUPREME COMMANDER:

H.W.Allen
Colonel,A.G.D.
Asst Adjutant General