Summary:

Juha Saunavaara, Friends among the Enemy Lines. Joseph C. Grew and proving the existence of the ”good” Japanese.

Joseph Clark Grew was the United States ambassador to Japan, the Undersecretary of State, one of the main contributors to the planning of the US postwar policy concerning Japan and a well-known author and opinion leader in matters related to Japan. This article introduces Grew as a political actor and a decision-maker with the special emphasis placed on his friendly personal relations with the small Japanese political elite. Hence, the ambitious aim of this study is to trigger debate and to augment our knowledge regarding the manifestations of friendship as the explanatory factor of a historical development. The foundation of the argumentation is a view, according to which even the foreign policy of a great power is by nature a series of decisions made by individuals. Moreover, individual decisions are always guided by conscious or subconscious motives and feelings.

As an ambassador Grew believed in a pendulum theory. The turmoil of the 1930s was a transient development for Grew who trusted on the re-emergence of the political leadership by the moderate forces around the Emperor and the Foreign Ministry. Although there was a short transition period due to the attack on Pearl Harbour, Grew continued to argue on behalf of the existence of the good Japanese after returning to the United States. Grew was criticized by both the colleagues in the US State Department and the press. His controversial message was, in addition, against the polled opinion of the general public.

The criticism did not, however, prevent Grew from becoming one of the most powerful political figures behind the planning of the post-surrender treatment of Japan. Grew was bypassed in the writing of the final versions of the policy plans and he decided not to join General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters in Tokyo. Nevertheless, his personal legacy manifested itself through various policies implemented by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.