CASE OF HIROHITO

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 39, 15 August 1945, Page 7

CASE OF HIROHITO

AUSTRALIAN OBJECTION TO DcnTPPTinw

CANBERRA, August 14. Australia's objections to any form of protection for Hirohito are officially stated as follows: — As a war criminal the Japanese Emperor is in no different position from

Hitler who, if he had been caught, would have had to stand his'trial. Unless the myth of the Emperor being a deity is exploded 80,000,000 Japanese fanatics are likely to rally round their godhead and stage another Pearl Harbour, this time, perhaps, with atomic rocket bombs. Any suggestion of a soft peace will encourage the Japanese "militarists to indoctrinate their people with the belief that Japan never lost the war and that the Japanese youth has a sacred duty to prove that Japan was victorious. Australia can never forget the unspeakable atrocities perpetrated by the Japanese on Australian soldiers at the behest of their leaders, including the Emperor. In placing its views before the rest of the world the Commonwealth Government has been relying on the advice of experts on Oriental affairs .who have made a close examination of the peculiar Japanese ways of life and psychology. To support its case, Australia is likely to press for the immediate publication of the report by Mr. Justice Webb, of Queensland, to the War Crimes Commission on Japanese atrocities in the Pacific Islands campaign.