IN “SELF-DEFENCE”

Evening Star, Issue 25566, 20 August 1945, Page 5

IN “SELF-DEFENCE”

AMERICAN LANDING IN KURILES OPPOSED JAPANESE EXCUSE TO GENERAL MACARTHUR MANILA, August 19. Tokio radio says that the Osahi Shimbun ’ reported serious, unrest among the people throughout the nation, due to wild rumours that 60,000 American troops had landed at Yokohama aud were freely engaged in looting, and that Chungking troops had entered Osaka. The ‘ Asalii ’ discounted the rumours, informing readers of the procedure to be adopted for the Allied occupation. The newspaper ‘ Mainichi ’ repeated its instructions to refrain from rash actions and to maintain discipline. ’ Japan Imperial Headquarters sent a radio message to General MacArthur: “ Some of your forces landed at Shihushu Island, in the Kuriles, yesterday. Our forces are obliged to resort to arms for self-defence. Now that hostilities between both -parties have been prohibited, it is earnestly desirable that hostile actions should soon cease.”

The American Associated Press points out that the Japanese radio quoted Emperor Hirohito as ordering on August 16 that all Japanese should cease hostilities, but Japan had not replied to General MacArthur’s instructions that he be notified of the effective date and hour.

General MacArthur’s headquarters disclosed that two Japanese generals in Northern Luzon have madp surrender overtures, aud negotiations are proceeding.