Post Surrender Directive
This document was the official order concerning occupied Japan sent by the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff to General Douglas MacArthur, approved on November 3, 1945. The directive lays out the scope of the authority granted to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP) over the political, military, economic, and financial institutions of Japan. In section 8, entitled “Prisoners of War, United Nations Nationals, Neutrals, and Other Persons”, the directive states: “You will treat Formosan-Chinese and Koreans as liberated peoples in so far as military security permits. They are not included in the term ‘Japanese’ as used in this directive but they have been Japanese subjects and may be treated by you, in case of necessity, as enemy nationals. They may be repatriated, if they so desire, under such regulations as you may establish.” This directive served as the basis for the large-scale voluntary repatriation of Koreans during the Allied occupation of Japan. Additionally, by declaring that formerly colonized peoples are not to be considered Japanese nationals, the directive was the basis for the ambiguity surrounding the legal status of Koreans who remained in Japan.