Role in China Laid to Vow to Japan
New York Times: Thursday, November 22, 1945. Page 8
Byrnes Reveals That Marines Must Stay Until 600,000 of Foe Are Sent Home
Pledge Made in August
Diplomats in Washington See Long Stay by Our Forces in Civil War Areas
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 –Secretary of State James F. Byrnes disclosed today that the United States had promised Japan last August that she would see that Japanese troops in all outlying places, including many Pacific Islands, were returned to their home islands.
The disclosure was made in response to questions at the Secretary’s press conference concerning marines who were in North China to assist Chungking forces in bringing about the surrender of Japanese troops in that area. Mr. Brynes said his latest reports were that there were about 300,000 Japanese soldiers and 300,000 civilians still in North China.
Our promise to bring about the return of the Japanese troops, Secretary Byrnes explained, was given in response to a Japanese inquiry last August regarding the Potsdam ultimatum calling upon Japan to surrender. While Mr. Byrnes did not go into the matter in detail today, it was assumed that the pledge in which he referred applied to the area in which we received responsibility from the Combined Chiefs of Staff last summer. This area includes Japan, the Philippines, islands in that general area which lie north of the Netherlands Indies, where Britain has the responsibility, and North China.
Our responsibility in North China, however, was limited to assisting Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek in cleaning up there. This limitation, however, would not relieve us of our responsibility to return Japanese soldiers where we can.
Secretary Byrnes made the disclosure in explaining the presence of our marines in North china as solely a military matter, although he said that inevitably political aspects arose incidentally.
In view of our pledge, he declared, the marines should remain there until their mission was completed, although he reiterated that his statement of two weeks ago. To the effect that plans were underway for their withdrawal, still stood. He stressed that the accomplishment of our pledged purpose depended in some slight measure upon the availability of transportation, especially ships.
Mr. Brynes said that his information was that reports as to the fighting in North china had been exaggerated but, he added, the situation was most unfortunate.
Long Stay by Marines Seen
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21. Secretary of state Byrnes’ comment today, on the secret assurances that surrendered soldiers would be returned to Japan, immediately raised speculation among diplomats here that American marines and other forces would be active in strife-torn China for a fairly long time.
It was a question of how soon these United States forces in north China –the scene of conflict between Chinese Government and Chinese Communist forces- might be withdrawn that set off the discussion that led to mention of the undisclosed assurances.
Heretofore inquiries at the State Department about the need for American marines in north China have always been answered with the statement that their presence there was necessitated by the surrender of Japanese forces because it is this Government’s policy to give all possible assistance in such matters to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.
This is apart from the question of sending a military mission to help train Chinese troops as Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer, American commander in China, forecast immediately after his recent return to China from Washington.
Any political implications in the presence of American forces in China at this time, Mr. Byrnes said, arise incidentally to the main military purposes they serve there.
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