SCAPIN-711: RESTRICTIONS ON RELEASES OF SILK FOR CIVILIAN AND MILITARY USE
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS
APO 500
6 February 1946
AG 423
(6 Feb 46)
ESS-IE
(SCAPIN-711)
| MEMORANDUM FOR | IMPERIAL JAPANESE GOVERNMENT. |
|---|---|
| THROUGH | Central Liaison Office, Tokyo. |
| Subject | Restrictions on Releases of Silk for Civilian and Military Use. |
1. Reference is made to paragraph 2 a, Memorandum for the Imperial Japanese Government, this Headquarters, file AG 091.3 (25 September 1945) ESS, dated 25 September 1945, Subject; “Operation of Manufacturing Industries” which states that “No raw silk, silk or silk thread, silk or silk mixture woven goods, or silk or silk mixture finished garments will be released except upon the specific approval of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.”
2. Investigation by personnel of this Headquarters indicates that silk of the types described in above reference have been released without the specific approval of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, as a result of the failure to inform manufacturers concerned, and the arbitrary misinterpretations on the part of the Imperial Japanese Government.
3. The Imperial Japanese Government is therefore directed immediately to comply with and enforce the restrictions therein provided for and to permit no distribution whatsoever of any silk goods, raw or completed, whether they were intended for civilian consumption or military use, without specific approval of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.
4. It is directed that the Imperial Japanese Government report action taken to comply with paragraph 3 above not later than 15 February 1946.
FOR THE SUPREME COMMANDER:
B.M.FICHI
Brigadiar General,AGD,
Adjutant General
MEMO FOR RECORD: (SCAPIN-711)
WFM/DH/ldg
4 February 1946
1. General Order No. 1 ordered the Imperial Japanese Government to hold intact and in good condition all material intended for use by any military organization.
2. CLOM No. 14 requested approval of the manufacture and distribution of silk, "making use of all available stock, including those which were originally intended for military use" and listed total stocks on hand as well as the amount thereof earmarked for military use.
3. Memorandum AG 091.3, 25 Sep 1945, Operations of Manufacturing Industries, in answer thereto, stated that "no raw silk, silk yarn, silk thread, silk or silk mixture woven goods, or silk or silk mixture finished garments will be released except upon the specific approval of the Supreme Commander." No distinction was made as to silk for military or civilian use.
4. A verbal request was made by SCAP on 29 November 1945 for an explanation as to why silk had been distributed for civilian use and the Japanese Government stated therein that CLOM No. 14 was intended as a request for the release of stocks intended for military use only since material for civilian use had not previously been frozen. The memorandum of this Headquarters, 23 Sep 1945 in response was interpreted as requiring the approval of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers for release of silk earmarked for military and civilian use. A further indication that the above was so interpreted is the CLOM No. 519, dated 10 Oct 1945, in which application was made for the conversion of such goods relating to military uses only.
5. Although the convenient interpretation of the Imperial Japanese Government may have been deliberate and no request for clarification was made, due to language difficulties and ambiguity it is believed prosecution in the matter would not be upheld.
6. It is recommended however, that the proposed memorandum be issued for clarification and the sternest action possible be taken for failure to comply with the proposed directive in the future.
7. It is imperative that this directive be released at once so as to synchronize with directive AG 423 (13 Dec. 1945) ESS-IE, Subject: Inventory of Raw silk, Semi, Greige, and Finished Goods.
R. A. M.
CONCURRENCE
Legal - Maj. Abrams
ESS-IE - Mr. May
Ind. - Maj. Tate
G-4 - Col. Hutchison
