Edward L. Rowny
A ..
Yes, I had problems with the press, but nothing to compare with the problems of
today's world. Today, the press is much more demanding and much more insistent
that they need to know details. They speculate upon and criticize everything in
sight. They editorialize more today than they did back then when they were
content simply to report the news. Every day I had some minor crisis or another
in dealing with the press. But overall, it went fairly well and I had a rather good
rapport with the press.
Several of the reporters got wind of the fact that we were working on an
amphibious plan and questioned me about it. I told them it was nothing I could
comment upon. Off the record, I told them they were correct but appealed to them
not to tip off the enemy. The press corps kept the secret and did not telegraph our
plan to the enemy. I was pleased that no leaks occurred.
Q ..
Let me revert back to your days at OPD. Did you have any influence on the
Japanese peace treaty or the planned occupation?
A
Yes, I had a piece of the action, working on studies, even before VJ Day,
pertaining to the postwar period. We didn't know just how the war would come
out. But even then we were making plans for the future of Japan and tried to shape
a long-term Japanese-U.S. relationship. We dealt with such questions as the final
disposition of the emperor and how to best handle the Japanese after the war. All
this, of course, was well before the days of the Marshall Plan. But we had the
same kinds of ideas for rebuilding Japan that we did for Europe. General
MacArthur wanted to see Japan get on its feet and established as a going economic
society as rapidly as possible. He rejected any idea of revenge or vindictiveness.
MacArthur said we should give the Japanese all the help we could, once we had
defeated them.
MacArthur had a strong hand in our planning, and we relied heavily on his input.
We drew up our studies, summarized them, and sent them to MacArthur for his
comments. He influenced many of the plans for the better. I have previously
mentioned that most of Washington thought that the emperor should be executed.
MacArthur disagreed. He believed we would have to exercise strong authority in
Japan and could only do so through -someone in whom the Japanese had absolute
faith I'm now repeating myself, but MacArthur thought the emperor was the only
person who could keep the Japanese society together. He was convinced that an
occupation force would not be able to control and guide the destiny of Japan.
Another controversy at the time was whether or not there should be a fourpower
occupation of Japan. The State Department favored it, but the Pentagon opposed
it, as did MacArthur. I recall that MacArthur said that under no circumstances
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