テキサス大学教授（歴史学）マーク・メツラー
「ウォール街にとって最も重要なことは戦前に行った投資をできるだけ早く確実に回収することでした。彼らは自分たちの資産だけでなく顧客が投資した資産を守る必要もあったのです」
The most significant thing for Wall Street was collecting the funds they had invested in Japan before WW2 as soon and safely as possible.
This was because they needed to secure not only their own funds, but also their clients’ assets.
Great Kanto Earthquake (1923)/ 関東大震災の復興に多額の US マネーが注ぎ込まれていた。
何としても資金を回収したいドレイパーは、再三マッカーサーに経済政策を見直すよう勧告したが、マッカーサーは聞く耳を持たなかった。
この時、瀕死の日本経済を救う幸運が訪れる。
Draper wanted to collect the funds at all costs.
Therefore, he counseled MacArthur to review the policy over and over again. However, MacArthur did not want to listen to it.
At that time, Japan had some luck which saved their dying economy.
Deepening the East-West Cold War
アメリカでは日本を反共の砦（Bastion of anti-communism）にするため、懲罰よりも経済の復興を優先させる考えが一気に台頭する。
ドレイパーは機を逃さず日本を訪れ、占領政策の転換を強くマッカーサーに求めた。
In the States, Draper’s opinion (changing the policy to prioritize rehabilitation of Japan) started to be supported by many people rather than MacArthur’s (occupation) in order to make Japan become “the bastion of anti-communism”.
Draper did not miss a chance and he visited Japan to require MacArthur to change the occupation policy in person.
Draper (the second from right)
The Berlin’s Wall (an icon of the Cold War)/ Thierry Noir
しかし、マッカーサーはそれほど反発しなかった（軍人で経済のことがあまりわからず、ドレイパーに頼らざるをえなかった）
ドレイパーは根っからの資本主義者で日本経済が繁栄すれば、アメリカ経済にとって大きなメリットになると考えていた。
In the States, Draper’s opinion (changing the policy to prioritize rehabilitation of Japan) started to be supported by many people rather than MacArthur’s (occupation) in order to make Japan become “the bastion of anti-communism”.
Draper did not miss a chance and he visited Japan to require MacArthur to change the occupation policy in person.
Surprisingly enough, MacArthur did not rebel against Draper because he was a soldier and not so familiar with the economy.
Therefore, he had no choice but to rely on Draper.Draper was a born capitalist. He was thinking that the U.S would be able to reap benefits if Japan’s economy thrived.
The Korean War (1950 ~ 1953)
会談から２年後に起こった朝鮮戦争で日本経済は大きく息を吹き替えす。
懲罰から復興支援へ180度方針を変えたアメリカは日本企業から大量の軍事物資を購入する。鉄鋼・機械などの生産が急拡大。GNP伸び率 1950 ~３年連続10%超え。
しかしこの好景気は長くは続かなかった。朝鮮戦争終結と同時に特需というカンフル剤は切れた。日本にはまだ自力で成長する力はなかった。
一刻も早く国の成長を支える基幹産業を興すことが必要だった。産業政策を担っていたのは通産省。
資源の無い日本は何かを作って売る道しかなかった。
一刻も早く国の成長を支える基幹産業を興すことが必要だった。産業政策を担っていたのは通産省。
資源の無い日本は何かを作って売る道しかなかった。
The U.S completely changed the policy from punishment to supporting restoration of Japan and purchased a great deal of military goods from Japanese companies.
Production in the steel and the machinery industries expanded dramatically and the growth rate of GNP was over 10% for 3 consecutive years from 1950.
However, this boom did not last long. A stimulant (the special procurement) brought during the Korean War stopped right after the end of the war. Japan had not been capable of prospering by itself yet.
Building up key industries which would be able to support the country’s prosperity was a matter of great urgency.
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) which was in charge of industrial policy had just one way of making it happen, which was producing something and selling it to the world because Japan had no resources.
