Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) publications

By 1940, many had become alarmed about the rise of Japanese military power in the Pacific. The Japanese economy depended on reliable supplies of raw materials and factions within the military fostered a belief that, as a major power, Japan should hold overseas colonies.

To realise these aims, an increasingly powerful Japanese military establishment engaged in semi-authorised military adventures between 1910 and 1932. These actions resulted in Japan taking control of Taiwan, Korea and eventually Manchuria between 1910 and 1932. The success engendered a political environment in Japan, in which there was broad public support for the military, with the result that the Imperial government was effectively powerless to intervene.

While a great deal of intelligence had been gathered on Japanese intentions before the attack on Pearl Harbour, it tended to concentrate on diplomatic, economic and military intentions. In other words, the information gathered was more useful for generals and diplomats than for a solider in his foxhole, a fighter pilot, or a destroyer Captain.

After the defeats of 1941, Allied commanders recognised that, before any victory could be achieved, it would be necessary to gather as much operational and tactical intelligence as possible, then get it into the hands of people on the front line. They set about creating organisations to do this.

One of four major Allied military commands in the Pacific War, South West Pacific Area (SWPA) included the Philippines, Borneo, the Dutch East Indies (excluding Sumatra), East Timor, Australia, the Territories of Papua and New Guinea, and the western part of the Solomon Islands. SWPA primarily consisted of United States and Australian forces, although New Zealand, Dutch, Filipino, British and other Allied forces also served in the SWPA.

General Headquarters, South West Pacific Area (GHQ SWPA) was created on 18 April 1942 in Melbourne, Australia. Commanded by US Army General Douglas MacArthur, (2) South West Pacific Force contained all allied units assigned to that area.

The South Pacific Area was adjacent to SWPA, and the South Pacific Force – a predominantly US Navy and Marine Corps formation – was responsible for early Allied success against the Japanese, including the battles of Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands.

Within the GHQ formation was a specialised unit – the Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) – which was formed to read and understand captured enemy documents as well as to assist in interrogations.

The work of ATIS was an important contribution to the Central Bureau, an intelligence arm of GHQ SWPA. Documents captured from the Japanese forces, or collected after retreats, as well as signals intelligence and Prisoner of War Interrogation transcripts were translated and passed to units operating within SWPA.

ATIS moved into Tokyo with GHQ in November 1945, and contributed extensively to the translation of documents. Material from the Occupation period is represented in AWM55 with Interrogation Reports from General Headquarters Far East Command Military Intelligence Section. Otherwise, the Memorial's holdings in AWM55 and AWM56 are from the South West Pacific Area.

• AWM55 4 - Limited Distribution Translations
• AWM55 5
• AWM55 13 - Allied Translator and Interpreter Section, South West Pacific Area