Elbow Patches and Orientalists

This chapter discusses postwar planning on Japan, which was dominated by the State Department. Key figures in that process disagreed about the causes of Japanese militarism and the potential of peaceful cooperation. Asia specialists and the senior officials who approved policy drew different conclusions based on their own experiences with Asia, a sense of connection to either Japan or China, and the information they had access to. Eventually, policy planner's recommendations evolved during the war and finally formed the document entitled United States Initial Post-Surrender Policy for Japan (SWNCC150/4), which became official policy in September 1945. This document, authorized by President Harry Truman, offered a broad vision for the treatment of Japan, which occupiers could use to frame responses to problems as they emerged.