The Widening of the Cold War, 1949-1955: US Containment in Action in Asia - the Reconstruction of Japan Flashcards
How did Japan become a US occupation?
• Japan surrendered unconditionally at end of WWII
• US began sole occupation which was agreed among the US, UK, USSR and China
• But USSR wanted Japan to be split like Germany
• Agreed occupation would last until 1952
Highlight the different stages of US occupation in japan
•1945-47, Occupation
- Unconditional surrender and military occupation
•1947-48, the Start of the ‘Reverse Course’
- Focus on creating ally, rather than punishing Japan
• 1949, Economic Stabilisation
- Aimed at building capitalist power
• 1950 onwards, Anti-communist Containment Ally
• The San Francisco Peace Treaty 1951
Who was put in charge of rebuilding Japan?
• September 1945 - US General Douglas MacArthur was made
SCAP (Supreme Commander of Allied Powers)
• Given decision powers to rebuild Japan
Describe the 1945-47 stage of US occupation
• September 1945 - US General Douglas MacArthur made SCAP
• Hate from Americans towards lapan due to war-crimes
• People wanted occupation to have punishments and reeducation
• There would be re-education, democratisation, economic reform, demilitarisation
Describe the 1947-48 ‘reverse course’ stage of
US occupation
• In 1947, US policy towards Japan became less focused on punishment, more focused on recovery
• Development of democratic institutions and economic reconstruction to achieve political stability
• US targeted communists and sympathisers instead of war criminals
Why did US policy towards Japan change to a
‘reverse course?
• Due to intensification of Cold War in Europe and growing threat of Communist forces against Nationalist China
• lapan’s recovery needed to become a US power base in Asia
•Japan needed to be a rich US ally to prevent growth of communist influences in Japan and Asia
Describe the 1949 economic stabilisation stage of US occupation
• Period focused on economic recovery, austerity and adopting
US capitalist system
•’Super balanced budget’ increased income and reduced expenditure and borrowing
• Initially led to rise in unemployment due to business closures
• lapan joins GATT to increase trade
Explain what the ‘super balanced budget’ is
• Former Detroit banker, Joseph Dodge worked with Japan’s Finance Minister, Hayato Ikeda
• Set a surplus target of nearly 157 million yen (just over $4
million)
• All gov. income and spending was monitored and stuck to strict guidelines
• Aimed at balancing income and expenditure to minimise borrowing and create surplus for extra stability
• Initially led to rise in unemployment due to business closures
Explain what GATT is
• The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was created with the UN at end of WWII
• Multinational agreement to manage international trade and tried reducing tariffs and duties to encourage international trade
• Increased lapan’s access to Western trade
• Prevented trade with communist China from late 1950
How did the communist world react to US
policy in Japan?
• USSR disapproved of rebuilding Japan’s economy as it would restore its military strength also
• Partly led to signing of Treaty of Friendship and Mutual
Assistance between PRC and USSR in February 1950
What was the ‘Treaty of Friendship and
Mutual Assistance’?
• Signed between USSR and PRC on 14 February 1950
• Recognised PRC and recalled recognition of ROC
• Aimed at preventing aggression from Japan and its allies
• Would resort to military means if they were attacked by Japan or
Its allies
Treaty of sanfracisco
Signed on 8 September, 1951 between Japan and Allied Powers
• Ended US occupation
• Japan surrendered claims to territory in China, Korea and Taiwan
• Japan would provide compensation to Allied civilians and prisoners-of-war
• Reparations to be made to war-affected states e.g Vietnam, Philippines, Burma, Indonesia
• Japan required to sign US-Japan Security Treaty (1951)
How did the USSR react to the ‘San Francisco
Peace Treaty?
•Did not sign it
- Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko protested it turned
Japan into a US military base
What was the US-Japan Security Treaty?
• Signed in 1951
• Gave US:
• Unrestricted use of military bases in Japan
• Administrative control of Okinawa (island separate from Japan’s mainland)
• Right to use military force to intervene in any internal disorder in apan
• Right to veto Japan offering military bases to other states
Why did the US and Japan create the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the Security Treaty?
• Clear that Japan was vital for containment in Asia
• Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida used opportunity to restore
Japan’s sovereignty and gain security from US
• In return, Japan would accept US troops on its land
