Thank you for your E5 [1] on British Commonwealth force of
occupation. I feel it is proper for you to be aware of the
following information which has been furnished to the Australian
Chiefs of Staff by the Australian Service Mission to Japan as to
General MacArthur's views on the British Commonwealth force:-

Begins:

General MacArthur expressed determined views opposing any idea of
a British area with the staff of the three services integrated
under the command of one officer. He authorised me to inform the
Australian Chiefs of Staff of this view, pointing out, however,
that he had not yet received his directive from Washington. His
plan, on which he is very determined, is to have the occupational
forces arranged as were those of the South West Pacific, namely
the Army of all nationalities under the command of a general
equivalent to General Blamey, the Air Force under the command of
the equivalent to General Kenney and the Navy under an Admiral
corresponding to Admiral Kinkaid. He pointed out that only by this
method could he effectively control the forces of the occupation .

. . particularly in view of the possibility of other nations
taking part. He agrees that it would probably be most convenient
to have the whole units of Commonwealth land forces occupying a
particular area with small detachment from each component in the
Tokyo garrison.

The mission are of the opinion that General MacArthur's plan is
the more practical arrangement for exercising command,
particularly as the situation may at any time require the
operational employment of the forces of occupation.

He suggested the inclusion in his staff of a mission in order to
ensure co-ordination between the three services of the British
Commonwealth Force and Supreme Command. Mission would come into
being with the arrival in Japan of the British Commonwealth Force.

Ends.