ARRESTS MADE IN JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24743, 7 December 1945, Page 5

ARRESTS MADE IN JAPAN

Prominent Enemy Statesmen

PRINCE KONOYE INCLUDED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 12.30 a.m.) TOKYO, Dec. 6. General Mac Arthur has ordered the arrest of Prince Konoya. Marquis Kido, Vice-Admiral Takuo Godo, a former member of the Cabinet and an unofficial envoy to .Germany to present Japan's side of the "China Incident," Shigeo Odate, a politico-econb-ir.ist, Taketora .Ogata, vice-president of the "Asahi Shimbun," Viscount Masatoshi Okoshi, an industrialist, Lieutenant-Gnneral Hiro3hi Oshima, Embassador to Berlin since 1938, who arrived in Japan only to-day. Count Tadamasu Pskai, a member of the Eouse of Paers, and Tarichiro Suma, a diplomat and a former counsellor at the Japanese Embassy in Washington. According to a reliable source, F-onoye told American Army officers that the Japanese army and navy drew up plans to launch a war against America in September, 1941, but were halted by the Emperor, and the Government war plan was presented by the late Field-Marshal Sugiyaina, then Chief of the Army General Staff, at a secret conference at Hirohito's palace on September 6, IS4I. The militarists supported the plan, but Kouoye, who was then Premiet still felt there was a possibility of negotiation.

The militarists were then prevailed on to revise their plans, so that preparations would be made for .hostilities. Instead, hostilities themselves were begun in the middle of October. Hirohito strongly emphasised the need for continuing negotiations with America, but did not attempt during the meeting to determine the militarists' plans or the prospects of victory. A meeting of the militarists was later held at Konoye's residence, with the Emperor absent. Konoye reported that he still believed there was' a chance for negotiation, but Tojo, then Minister of War, said that war was inevitable, even if Japan bowed to the American demands- and withdrew all her troops from China. Konoye was forced to resign as a result of the c'ash. of opinions. Tojo succeeded him and led Japan to war.

CASE AGAINST YAMASHITA

VERDICT EXPECTED TODAY CRec. 7 p.m.) MANILA, Dec. 5. / The military commission which has been trying General Yamashita for war crimes has concluded the hearing. It promised its verdict on Friday. The prosecution, summing up, declared that there was no doubt about Xamashita's responsibility and negligence, and asked for a verdict of guilty and the death sentence. The defence asserted that Yamashita did not permit the atrocities alleged, and was not aware of their commission, and that he dJd not condone them. The commission would be open to charges of succumbing to a mob desire for revenge unless it returned a verdict of not guilty. Yamashita was visibly moved. He took the defence counsel (Captain Reel) by his shoulders, and said. "Thank you." JAPANESE WAR CRIMINALS (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 6. Seventy Japanese accused of war crimes will appear before an Australian military court et Labuan, Borneo, next week, in the first mass trial of war criminals in the Pacific. The Japanese will be charged joint-, ly with having ill-treated prisoners o'f war at the Kuching internment camp. The commandsnt of the camp (Colonel Suga) committed suicide last month in Labuan prison by cutting his throat with a blunt table-knife. His officers are among those listed for trial. War crimes officers of the 9th Australian Division have more than 300 esses ready for trial. U.S. DIPLOMACY IN CHINA HURLEY BLAMES TWO OFFICIALS ALLEGED HOSTILITY TO CHUNGKING

(Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. Major-General Patrick J. Hurley, who recently resigned from the post of United States Ambassador in China, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that an American diplomat, Mr John Service, who was assigned to Lieutenant-General Stilwell in China, had . proposed in October, 1944, that Marshal Chiang Kaishek's Government be allowed to collapse. Mr Service's report was circulated among the Chinese Communists. Major-General Hurley added that Mr George Atcheson, Counsellor at the American Embassy in Chungking, had sought to destroy the Chinese Government by getting lend-lease arms for the Chinese Communists. The arms were not given to the Communists and Mr Atcheson was later recalled from China. Mr Atcheson, said MajorGeneral Hurley, claimed in a letter to the Secfetary of State that he had the support of every official at the American Embassy in his recommendation. Major-General Hurley added that Lieu-tenant-General Stilwell and Marshal Chiang Kai-shek were incompatibles. The Associated Press says that Mr Service and Mr Atcheson are at present acting as General Mac Arthur's political advisers in Tokyo.