Everything Everywhere Daily · Sunday, August 16, 2026
The US government began planning for the post-war occupation of Japan as early as 1942, when President Franklin Roosevelt established an advisory committee on post-war foreign policy. This committee, later divided into the Interdepartmental Area Committee of the Far East (IDAFE), met over 230 times between 1942 and 1945, frequently consulting with FDR and President Harry Truman.
“The United States government had been planning for a post-war occupation of Japan as early as 1942, when the president at the time, Franklin Roosevelt, created an advisory committee on post-war foreign policy.”
“The committee's goal was to advise the president on how to handle policy towards members of the Axis powers after the war.”
“The IDAFE met over 230 times between 1942 and 1945 and often met with FDR and President Harry Truman, who assumed the presidency after FDR's death.”