Page:Implementation of Second War Guilt Information Program (June, 1946 - Feburary, 1948).pdf/1

 IMPLEMENTATION OF SECOND WAR GUILT INFORMATION PROGRAM JUNE, 1946 - FEBRUARY, 1948

1. Most press activity, including thrice-weekly press conferences, daily press releases, and indoctrination of newspaper executives and writers, has been devoted to a positive program of democratization. Thus, the entire press of Japan, through CI&E at the national level and through Military Government at the prefectural level, has been kept awake of daily developments in SCAP's accomplishment of the primary missions of the Occupation. Datailed statements and answers and questions on all phases of the Occupation have been handled through this medium, specifically in the fields of politics and government, social trends, economics, public health and welfare and foreign trade. SCAP, through this medium, has shown the Japanese what steps it has taken to advise and assist them. It has also detailed philosophies and methods whereby the nation not only cloud achieve democracy but cloud help itself economically and socially.

2. While this process of democratization was in progress, direct reminders of Japan's war guilt and ultra-nationalism, which led to disaster, have not been neglected. Before the War Crimes Trials opend in June, 1946, CIE held two press conferences for the Chief of the International Prosecution Section and one for the Defense Section, attended by representatives of Kyodo News Service and all leading newspapers in the nation. The purposes and methods of the International Tribunal were discussed thoroughly and were covered thoroughly by the press. Conferences were held at Yokohama to launch the information program for the Class B war criminal trials there. Since the opening of both series of trials, CIE has distributed daily the PIO release on the Class B trials and has conducted a full-time information program on the major trials, by assigning a liaison officer to daily duty with Japanese correspondents at the Tribunel.

3. Particular attention has been paid, through the War Crimes information program, to obtaining for Japanese press all possible information on the trials, particularly on details of the prosecution's case and the testimony of prosecution witnesses. Coverage has been extended to newsreels and the radio several times monthly, but widespread press coverage has also resulted daily. While it is true that because of the extremay critical newsprint situation full stories have not often been feasible, the coverage has been constant and top display has often been given.

4. Through the activies of the CIC, Press and Publications Unit, press and magazine executives have become aware of the fact that the economic, social and human waste of war is such that no civilised person can countenance it as a method of resolving conflicts between nations; that a free press manned by journalists of integrity is feared by all tyrants, bosses, and dictators, who would impose one will upon the many. Such a press is the voice of the people. Without such free newspapers, the people