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Herbert Norman, the Occupation of Japan, and Canada-U.S. Relations. A Canadian critique of MacArthur and the Occupation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2025

John Price
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Fifty years ago, the Canadian diplomat and noted Japan scholar, Herbert Norman, committed suicide, stepping off the roof of a nine-storey building in downtown Cairo. Canadian ambassador to Egypt at the time, Norman was 47 years old and his death on April 4, 1957 provoked a crisis in Canada-U.S. relations.

Type
Research Article
Information
Asia-Pacific Journal , Volume 5 , Issue 5 , May 2007 , e17
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Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
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References

Notes

[1] An early account of Norman's life is contained in Charles Taylor, Six Journeys: A Canadian Pattern (Toronto, Anansi Press, 1977). Later accounts of Norman's life in English include Roger Bowen ed., E.H. Norman: His Life and Scholarship (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1984) and his landmark biography, Innocence is Not Enough: The Life and Death of Herbert Norman (Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre, 1986). In Japanese, see Nakano Toshiko, H. noman-aru demokuratto no tadotta unmei [H. Norman: The Fate that Befell a Democrat], (Tokyo, Riburopoto, 1990); Kudo Miyoko, Higeki no gaikokan: habato noman no shogai [Tragedy's Diplomat: The Life of Herbert Norman], (Tokyo, Iwanami shoten, 1991). Kato Shuichi and Nakano Toshiko, eds, E.H. Noman: Nihon senryo no kiroku [E.H. Norman: Reports from Occupied Japan], (Tokyo, Jimbun shoin, 1997)

[2] The most recent exoneration came from a government-contracted study. See Peyton Lyon, “The Loyalties of E. Herbert Norman,” (A report for External Affairs and International Trade, March 18, 1990).

[3] Memorandum by the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Kennan), October 14, 1947, (FRUS 1948) pp. 536-537 and “[Annex] Memorandum by the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Kennan), October 14, 1947 (Foreign Relations of the United States 1948, hereafter FRUS), pp. 537-543.

[4] Norman to Pearson, No. 100, March 22, 1948, Library and Archives Canada (hereafter LAC), Record Group 25 (External Affairs), Vol. 4729, 50061-40, pt. 1, p. 3.

[5] US National Archives, Occupation of Japan, Part 2: US and Allied Policy, 1945-1952, 3-H-21

[6] Arthur Menzies, “United States Policy for Japan,” June 3, 1948 (LAC, RG 25, Vol. 4730, File 50061-40 (part 1), p. 1

[7] Ibid., p. 1

[8] Ibid., p. 4

[9] Ibid., p 6.

[10] Ibid. p. 6-7

[11] Ibid., p. 7

[12] Ibid., p. 8

[13] Ibid., p. 9

[14] Personal Message for Mr. Mackenzie King from Mr. Attlee, July 21, 1948 (LAC, RG 25, Vol. 4730, File 50061-40 (part 1), p. 1.

[15] Pearson wrote Norman Robertson on August 4 explaining that Mackenzie King was preoccupied with the Liberal convention but that Robertson might share with British authorities the content of the draft reply. He also told Robertson that they had shared their views with Kennan and that the matter was basically closed. See Cypher No. 1245, Robertson from Pearson, August 4, 1948 (LAC, RG 25, Vol. 4730, File 50061-40 (part 1).

[16] Personal Message for Mr. Attlee from Mr. Mackenzie King, July 23, 1948 (LAC, RG 25, Vol. 4730, File 50061-40 (part 4)).

[17] E.H. Norman, “Memorandum”, 5 November 1945, contained in Okubo Genji ed., Historical and Political Writings [MSS] by Herbert Norman (Tokyo, 1978), Special Collections, Main Library, University of British Columbia.

[18] For details see John Price, “E. H. Norman, Canada and Japan's Postwar Constitution,” Pacific Affairs, vol. 74, no. 3 (Fall, 2001), pp. 383-405.

[19] As cited in “Mr. Max W. Bishop, of the Office of the Political Adviser in Japan, to the Secretary of State,” Tokyo, April 15, 1946, FRUS 1946 Vol. VIII, pp. 202–205. This citation is from pp. 204–205.

[20] Hume Wrong, Wrong to Pearson, WA-1394, 11 April, 1951, (LAC, RG 25, Vol. 6031, File 50293-40 pt. 1.2).

[21] Ibid., p. 2.

[22] E.H. Norman, “Memorandum for the Under-Secretary,” 25 April, 1951, (LAC, RG 25, Vol. 6031, File 50293-40, pt. 1.2).

[23] My view that this was mainly Norman's work is affirmed in a handwritten note on another memorandum on MacArthur's speech written by the former Canadian ambassador to China, T.C. Davis. The note under Norman's name as one of the recipients of the TC Davis memorandum states: “(we might send T.C.D. a copy of your analysis of McAs speech) Mr Mackay”. T.C. Davis to A.D.P. Heeney, 24 April 1951, (LAC, RG 25, Vol. 6031, File 50293-40, pt. 1.2), p.1.

[24] E.H. Norman, “A Consideration of General MacArthur's address to Congress (April 19),” 24 April, 1951 (LAC, RG 25, Vol. 6031, File 50293-40, pt. 1-2), p. 1.

[25] Ibid., p. 1.

[26] Ibid., p. 3.

[27] Ibid., p. 3.

[28] Ibid., p. 3.

[29] Ibid., p. 4-5.

[30] Ibid., p. 6.

[31] Ibid., p. 7.

[32] E.H. Norman, “A Consideration of General MacArthur's Address to Congress (April 19)”, 24 April, 1951 (LAC, RG 25, Vol. 6031, File 50293-40, pt. 1.2.)

[33] Ibid., p. 5.

[34] Ibid., p. 6.

[35] Ibid., p. 7.