JAPANESE PRINCE NOW OPERATES A FISH SHOP

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1947, Page 7

JAPANESE PRINCE NOW OPERATES A FISH SHOP

(Rec. 10.50 a.m.) TOKIO, Oct. 15. Prince Higashikuiii and 10 other princes, of. the Imperial . Family, who became commoners on Monday, were purged today by the Japanese Government screening committee as “career-militarists.” The purging will' prevent the princes from holding offices of. influence in the political, ’financial and industrial enterprises restricted by General MacArthur.

Prince Higashikuni is a distant relation of the Emperor. He. became the Prime Minister of-Japan after, the surrender and 12 days before Gen-

eral MacArthur’s entry he ordered the distribution of all industrial materials, food and clothing to “secret civilian sources.” General MacArthur’s spokesmen say this act greatly retarded the economic rehabilitation of Japan and caused widespread black-marketing- - and racketeering.

Higashikuni is at the moment operating a fish shop in a suburb of Tokio. His military son,. who is Emperor Hirohito’s son-in-law, Prince Morihiro Higashikuni, is’ included in the list of those purged. He served in the Japanese army Aas a major during the war. He married the Emperor’s eldest daughter last November. Other princes purged include.- a number, who were prominent militarily during the war.