236. FEC 51 ... Japanese Education.

1. At request of USA we have agreed to omission of reference to
Romaji [1] from education paper, on understanding that SCAP will
nevertheless follow policy desired by you. MacArthur reports he is
in complete agreement and is already encouraging Romaji. However
he strongly urges no directive on Romaji be issued to him or by
him because he feel[s] that any formal or public allied direction
might be used as a basis for opposition to Romaji by the new
underground nationalist bodies that are beginning to appear in
Japan. (This is the first official indication given to us by USA
that underground activity might be assuming any importance. An
imperial picture society in Kyoto is quoted as example.)
2. Consideration of your proposals on decentralisation were
postponed till next week to enable the US to obtain SCAP views.

3. All your other proposals including finance were accepted by
Committee 19th February.