APPENDIX A
CHRONOLOGY OF MAIN EVENTS
1945
July 26
Potsdam Declaration issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, and China
Aug. 6
Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
9
Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki
Soviet Union declares war on Japan
15
Emperor's speech accepting Potsdam terms
17
Higashikuni cabinet formed
19
Japanese delegation receives surrender plans at Manila
26
Japanese set up the CLO
30
MacArthur lands at Atsugi
Sept. 2
Surrender ceremony takes place aboard the Missouri
3
Shigemitsu meets MacArthur re "direct occupation"
10
SCAP orders free speech, press, and communications
17
Yoshida named foreign minister
20
MacArthur and Yoshida meet for first time
22
U.S. initial policy for Japan made public
27
First of eleven meetings of MacArthur and emperor
Oct. 4
SCAP "bill of rights" directive issued
5
Higashikuni cabinet resigns
9
Shidehara cabinet formed
11
MacArthur asks Shidehara to make five major reforms
16
SCAP announces Japanese demobilization completed
Nov. 3
U.S. basic policy directive sent to SCAP
6
Four biggest zaibatsu companies dissolved
8
SCAP "restricts" 354 zaibatsu companies
Dec. 9
SCAP ordered a liberal land reform program
12
Pauley initial reparations report made public
15
State Shinto disestablished
Universal adult suffrage law enacted
17
Trials of Class B and C war criminals begin
21
Labor Union Law enacted
26
FEC and ACJ set up
1946
Jan. 1
Emperor's declaration of humanity made public
4
SCAP purge orders issued
11
SWNCC 228 on political reform received by SCAP
19
SCAP announces charter of IMTFE
20
SCAP designates 389 factories for reparations
25
MacArthur cables opinion discouraging trial of emperor
Feb. 3
MacArthur tells GS to draft new constitution
13
Japanese government given draft
19
Emperor begins series of visits around the country
26
First meeting of the FEC
Mar. 6
Emperor publicly supports new constitution
30
First shipment of food from the United States arrives
Stoddard education report presented (6-3-3-4 system)
Apr. 1
Final report of Pauley reparations commission filed
5
MacArthur addresses first meeting of ACJ
10
Election of new lower house held; no majority winner
20
HCLC set up
May 3
Trial of major war criminals begins
Soviet forces evacuate Manchuria
4
Hatoyama, head of Liberal Party, purged
5
Hoover commission studying food shortages arrives
19
May Day riots occur over food shortages
22
Yoshida forms first cabinet
June 25
Revised constitution submitted to Diet
Aug. 12
ESB set up
Sept. 20
Labor relations adjustment law approved
Oct. 7
Revised constitution passes Diet
21
Revised land reform bill approved
Nov. 3
Revised constitution officially promulgated
Dec. 27
Cabinet approves priority production plan
1947
Jan. 1
Yoshida calls labor leaders "lawless"
4
Under SCAP pressure Japan orders purge of local officials, economic leaders, and media leaders
18
Labor unions announce general strike for Feb. 1
31
MacArthur press statement prohibits strike
Feb. 6
MacArthur orders general election
Mar. 19
MacArthur publicly calls for early peace treaty
22
Fundamental law of education enacted
Apr. 4
United States orders interim reparations program
14
Antimonopoly law goes into effect
25
Socialists win majority in lower house election
May 1
Emperor holds his first press conference
3
Revised constitution goes into effect
12
United States sends FEC-230 deconcentration policy to FEC
June 1
Katayama forms three-party cabinet
July 3
SCAP orders breakup of Mitsui and Mitsubishi trading companies
Aug. 15
Limited foreign trade opened
26
Diet begins investigation of wartime hoarded goods
Sept. 13
Ashida memo on defense policy given to Eichelberger
Nov. 12
Strike committee report for reduced reparations filed
Dec. 9
Law to bar excessive industrial concentrations passed
17
Police reform law enacted, barring centralized force
31
Home Ministry abolished, its functions dispersed
1948
Jan. 6
Secretary of Army Royall calls for self-supporting Japan
16
First shipment of interim reparations sent to China
21
United States notifies FEC of new U.S. focus on economic recovery
Feb. 10
Katayama cabinet resigns
Mar. 8
Police law goes into effect
10
Ashida coalition cabinet formed without election
June 23
Arrests begin in Showa Denko bribery scandal
July 22
MacArthur orders Ashida to revise public service law
30
Exclusion of banks from deconcentration law announced
31
Ashida cabinet issues ordinance 201 revising NPSL
Oct. 7
Ashida cabinet resigns because of Shoden scandal
9
Truman approves NSC 13/2
15
Yoshida forms second cabinet after party dissension
Nov. 12
Twenty-five major war criminals found guilty
Dec. 7
Ashida arrested in bribery scandal
9
United States withdraws FEC-230 deconcentration plan
19
Japan given nine-point directive calling for economic stabilization
Dec. 23
Tojo and six other war criminals hanged
Yoshida voted out of office by prearranged deal
1949
Jan. 1
MacArthur permits flying of Japanese flag
23
Yoshida's Liberal Party wins overwhelming victory
Feb. 1
Dodge arrives to enforce economic austerity
16
Third Yoshida cabinet formed
Apr. 23
Yen/dollar rate set at 360/1
May 12
United States announces end of Japan reparations program
30
Start of campaign of violence by railway workers
June 18
Antimonopoly law amended
July 6
Shimoyama, president of National Railways, killed
Sept. 2
MacArthur states communism not a threat to Japan
Dec. 1
Foreign exchange and foreign trade control law passed
1950
Jan. 8
Cominform criticizes peace policy of Communist Party leader Nosaka
Feb. 9
Japanese government authorized to set up overseas offices
Apr. 24
Dulles advocates early peace for Japan
June 6
SCAP purges twenty-four members of Communist Party central committee
21
Dulles arrives to explore peace treaty prospects
25
War starts in Korea
July 8
MacArthur orders creation of 75,000-man police reserve
24
Japanese private sector begins Red Purge of leftists
Oct. 13
Ten thousand Japanese released from 1946 purge
1951
Jan. 29
Dulles begins peace treaty talks with Yoshida
Feb. 9
Dulles and Yoshida approve five treaty documents
Apr. 11
Truman recalls MacArthur
14
Ridgway arrives in Tokyo to succeed MacArthur
16
Dulles arrives in Tokyo for third visit
Sept. 8
Peace and security treaties signed in San Francisco
Dec. 10
Dulles arrives in Tokyo to clarify China policy
1952
Jan. 16
Yoshida letter to Dulles on China policy made public
Feb. 28
U.S.-Japan administrative agreement signed
Apr. 28
Peace and security treaties come into force