OFFICE OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER
FOR THE ALLIED POWERS

24 September 1945

AG 402.5 (24 Sep 45) GD
(SCAPIN-53)

MEMORANDUM FOR	IMPERIAL JAPANESE GOVERNMENT
THROUGH	Central Liaison Office, Tokyo
SUBJECT	Materials, Supplies, and Equipment Received and to be Received from the Japanese Armed Forces.

1. In furtherance of paragraph VI, General Order No. 1, this headquarters, dated 2 September 1945, it is desired that the Imperial Japanese Government take immediate steps to prepare to turn over on demand to the Commanding Generals, Sixth and Eighth United States Armies, XXIV Corps, and Commanders, Fifth and Seventh Fleets, all arms, ammunition, explosives, military equipment, stores, and supplies and other implements of war of all kinds and any equipment or other property belonging to, used by, or intended for use by the Japanese armed forces or any members thereof in connection with their operations. Japanese armed forces include all Japanese and Japanese-controlled land, sea, and air forces and military and para-military organizations, formations, or units and their auxiliaries including Civilian Volunteer Corps wherever they may be located.
2. United States Occupation Force Commanders have been directed to destroy all equipment which is essentially or exclusively for use in war or warlike exercises and which is not suitable for peacetime civilian uses. After operational requirements of the Occupational Forces have been met, equipment and supplies of the Japanese armed forces which are not essentially for war or warlike exercises, including scrap from implements of war destroyed, are to be returned to the Japanese Government except that in Korea.
3. The Home Ministry of the Imperial Japanese Government is hereby designated as the official agency to receive and account for such supplies, materials and equipment of the Japanese armed forces as are being returned to your control.
4. In order to administer these transactions, it is desired that the Imperial Japanese Government take the following action:
a. Responsible Japanese Army and Navy Commanders will prepare inventories by location (generally corresponding to points at which the material is being assembled for turn over to the United States Occupation Forces) of all supplies, materials, and equipment in their possessions. These inventories will be made available upon call to United States Occupational Force Commanders.
b. The Home Ministry of the Imperial Japanese Government will send representatives to the Commanding General, Sixth and Eighth United States Armies, and Commander, Fifth Fleet, for the purpose of receiving supplies, materials, and equipment being returned to the Japanese Government. Sufficient personnel will be provided to accept these items at the locations where turned over by the Japanese armed forces.
c. The Home Ministry of the Imperial Japanese Government will maintain records of all property so received and account for this property in such form that the disposition of all supplies, materials, and equipment may be traced to the ultimate consumer. These records will be made available on call to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, the United States Occupational Force Commanders, or authorized representatives.
5. You are informed that the supplies, materials, and equipment returned to your Government are for the purpose of civilian relief, and for use toward restoration of Japanese civil economy to the extent that it can provide the essentials of food, clothing, and shelter for the Japanese civilian population. The use of these supplies, materials, and equipment for any purposes other than the above is expressly forbidden.

FOR THE SUPREME COMMANDER:

/s/ Harold Fair,
/t/ HAROLD FAIR,
Lt. Colonel,A.G.D.,
Asst. Adjutant General