The Acting Minister for Defence, the Hon. Arthur S. Drakeford M.P.

said today that the British Commonwealth Governments whose troops
are taking part in the occupation of Japan have recently reviewed
the system for the control and administration of the British
Commonwealth occupation force which was instituted at the
inception of the occupation. They have decided in the light of
experience gained in controlling this integrated force to modify
the organisation for combined control by the Governments
concerned.

It has been agreed subject to the continued retention by
participating Governments of sovereign control of their own policy
and full consultation when their interests are affected that
responsibility for the control and administration of the British
Commonwealth occupation force will be assigned to the Australian
Government and that this responsibility will be exercised through
the higher defence organisation of the Department of Defence in
relation to joint service matters and through the Departments of
the Navy, the Army and Air in regard to matters within their
respective spheres of responsibility.

The new system is to be introduced at the beginning of January
1948. The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee in Australia which has
planned for and controlled the British Commonwealth occupation
force on behalf of the British Commonwealth Governments taking
part in the occupation of Japan will be dissolved when the new
system is introduced. Service representatives of other
participating British Commonwealth Governments will continue to be
associated with the Australian machinery for consultation and
advice in connection with their respective countries interests.

Rear Admiral A.R.M. Bridge C.B.E. R.N. will act as the Chief
United Kingdom Liaison Officer and Colonel C.J. Duff D.S.O. has
been appointed as the New Zealand Joint Service Representative in
Australia.