The Use and Treatment of Micronesian Labor Under the Japanese Empire, 1922-1945

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2001Pacific Islands StudiesIn the 1950's, a number of Micronesian people complained of losses incurred on their territory during the war. In order to address these grievances, the United States and Japan negotiated a treaty in 1961 to compensate Micronesians. The treaty divided losses into two categories: Title I claims and Title II claims. Title I claims sought to compensate "Micronesian inhabitants of the Trust Territory who suffered loss of life, physical injury, and loss of or damage to personal property directly resulting from the hostilities between the governments of Japan and the United States between December 7, 1941, and the dates of the securing of the various islands of Micronesia by the Armed Forces of the United States Title II claims sought to compensate Micronesians for the same type of losses arising during 1945 and 1951. Through the treaty and subsequent United States Congressional Hearings, a number of Micronesians received some compensation for their grievances. As the number of lawsuits grew, one set of workers was completely absent from these discussions -- Micronesians working for Japanese entities. Even the treaty negotiated between Japan and the United States in 1961 regarding the Micronesians and the subsequent Title I and Title II compensation never addressed how the Micronesian people fared as a labor force under the Japanese. This is important because Micronesia was a Japanese colony for 31 years. It had been the site of intense economic development prior to World War II. During the war, the Japanese Army intensified its industries for the war effort in numerous ways. Like the people in Japan's other possessions, the people of Micronesia played a part in the industrial experiment as labor. This, then, leads to the present inquiry and purpose of this research - Did Japanese entities commit any labor abuses against the Micronesian people in violation of international law that would justify monetary compensation or an apology