1945.09.22 “Military Expert”
by Ralph Lee (1906-1947)
14 x 19 in., ink on board
Coppola Collection
Ralph Lee was an editorial cartoonist for the Portland Oregonian. He died suddenly, at 41, in January 1947. His cousin, Art Bimrose, was the editorial cartoonist for the Oregonian for more than three decades. In 1937, the Oregonian hired him part-time to work on printing plates. Following Lee’s death, Bimrose was hired as the Sunday editorial cartoonist.
Public criticism of MacArthur's handling of the peace agreement with Japan in September 1945 centered on his perceived leniency towards the Emperor Hirohito.
MacArthur's decision to retain Emperor Hirohito on the throne, despite the war crimes committed by the Japanese military, was a major point of contention. He felt it was necessary for a smooth transition to peace and stability; others saw it as an extreme deviation from the principle of unconditional surrender.
One underlying logic was to ensure the capitulation of all Japanese troops, still spread widely throughout the Pacific. Also, what MacArthur and the Truman Administration envisioned for the occupation of Japan was unprecedented. Their ambitious plans to transform the country: plans built around the two key principles of Democratization and Demilitarization.
