Site Ed: The following press code was issued to Japanese publishers on September 21, 1945, when print censorship became an important policy in Occupied Japan. Intimations of what was to come where delivered in a stern speech, September 15, by the first head of civil censorship in Japan. The code was not made public, and references to censorship were forbidden. Not even ellipses could be used to indicate the removal of material. The restrictions were enforced by American and Allied civil censors and a staff of Japanese nationals in the Press, Pictorial, and Broadcasting Division (PPB) of the Civil Censorship Detachment (CCD). CCE, in turn, was part of the Civil Intelligence Section (CIS), headed by General Charles Willoughby, a charter member of General MacArthur’s inner circle. (Text written out below.)
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GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES, PACIFIC
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2
Civil Censorship Detachment To RYOBO 21 September 1945
CODE FOR JAPANESE PRESS In accordance with the Supreme Allied Commander’s objective of establishing freedom of the press in Japan, a Press Code for Japan has been issued. This PRESS CODE, rather than being one of restrictions of the press, is one which is designed to educate the press of the Japanese in the responsibilities and meaning of a free press. Emphasis is placed on the truth of news and the limitation of propaganda. This Press Code will cover, in addition, all publications printed in Japan.
This is the Press Code for Japan;
1. News must adhere strictly to the truth.
2. Nothing should be printed which might, directly or indirectly, disturb the public tranquility.
3. There shall be no false or destructive criticism of the Allied Powers.
4. There shall be no destructive criticism of the Allied Occupation and nothing which might invite mistrust or resentment of those troops.
5. There shall be no mention or discussion of Allied troops movement unless such movements have been officially released.
6. News stories must be factually written and completely devoid of editorial opinion.
7. News stories shall not be colored to conform with any propaganda line.
8. Minor details of a news story must not be over-emphasized to stress or develop any propaganda line.
9. No news story shall be distorted by the omission of pertinent facts or details.
10. In the make-up of the newspaper no news story shall be given undue prominence for the purpose of establishing or developing any propaganda line.
......................... Reference
Gordon W. Prange Collection, Special Collections, University of Maryland
Libraries.
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