JAPAN’S LEADERS INDICTED

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 14048, 1 May 1946, Page 3

JAPAN’S LEADERS INDICTED

TWENTY-EIGHT TO STAND TRIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR STARTING WAR Tokio, April 20. Ti e United Nations have formally charged General Tojo and 27 others with war crimes. The indictments against Japan’s top militarists and civilian supporters included specific charges of starting the war against all 11 licensing nations. The accused are also charged with attempting a world conspiracy and with specific acts against prisoners and internees contrary to internationally accepted codes. Specifically included is a charge of planning war aganist Russia and the commission of acts cf aggression against the Soviet during the years preceding the Pacific war. The indictment adds that Japan would have attacked Russia if the Soviet forces had not proved so strong in the war against Germany.

The list of accused charged clearly indicates that the trial will involve aggression preceding even the Manchurian incident of 1931. The indictments also allege the use of poison gas in China and the promotion of opium sales 'to weaken the will of the Chinese people to resist aggression.

The list of accused includes Koichi Kido, former . Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and once the most influential civilian in Japan, Yosuke Matsuoka, former Foreign Minister, General Doihara, General Qshima, Toshio Shiratori, - former Ambassador to Italy, Baron Iliranuma and Koki Hirota, former Prime Ministers, General Koiso, Mamoru Shigemitsu, former Foreign Minister, and General Umezu, former Chief of the General Staff. Top-ranking Navy officers named included Admiral Nagano, Admiral Shigetaro and Admiral Shimada.

Others charged include FieldMarshal Hata, former commander of the Japanese forces in China, General Itagaki, Okinori Kaya. former Minister of Finance, and Takasumi Oka, former Director of the Navy Bureau.