May 2024 Auction Ends Thursday, May 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on: 5/30/2024 6:29:00 PM

Lot #76: Douglas MacArthur Letter Signed as Supreme Commander in Japan, Dated 1950 -- MacArthur Writes a Detailed 4pp. Letter on Why He Forbade Margaret Sanger from Speaking to the Japanese About Birth Control

Description

Interesting typed letter signed by Douglas MacArthur as Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan, dated 1 April 1950. MacArthur writes a very detailed four-page letter regarding his decision not to allow Margaret Sanger into the country to lecture upon birth control. MacArthur responds to Karl Sax of Harvard, who would later head up Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts, defending his decision so as not to ''harass'' the Japanese people with ''undue Allied pressure''. Letter reads in small part,

''…I have yielded to pressure from neither the group in advocacy nor that in opposition to birth control, but have consistently and publicly taken the position that the subject matter is a social problem for solution by the Japanese people themselves without interference, directly or indirectly, by the Allied Powers…'' MacArthur goes into great detail regarding Japanese population growth and their history of both contraception and abortion.

Four page letter on four separate sheets measures 8'' x 10.5'', with the first page on SCAP letterhead. Signed at the conclusion, ''Douglas MacArthur'' in blue fountain pen. Folds, else near fine condition.
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