The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1945. JAPANESE CRIMINALS MUST BE IDENTIFIED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21809, 4 September 1945, Page 2

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1945. JAPANESE CRIMINALS MUST BE IDENTIFIED

[PARTLY no doubt for the reason that the names of most Japanese individuals do not stand out so prominently in the public, mind as has been the case in the attention paid to the Germans, there is a vagueness about Nipponese responsibility for •war crimes which may have given the impression that the Allies arc lacking in the necessary determination to sheet home full punishment for the instigators of prison camp torture and other acts of bestiality. Led in this matter by its vigorous Minister of External Affairs, Dr. 11. V. Evatt, the Australian Government has been taking the vieAv that the sternest justice should be meted out to these Avar criminals of the Far East and Pacific. Australians are among those Avho have suffered a great deal at the hands of their former enemies and it is not surprising that the Commonwealth should be to the fore in current insistence on appropriate retribution.. “We are not going to let these Japanese criminals get away with anything, ” declared Dr. Evatt. Among all the Allied nations there will be general agreement Avith his sentiments. The cablegrams detailing the ghastly crimes perpetrated [by the most appalling barbarians of these times need no elaboration here. It is sufficient to observe that the sadistic acts, of the Japanese merit the most painstaking inquiry into the identity and whereabouts of all individuals Avho haA r e had the remotest connection Avith Avar crimes. The fact that to most people there is a similarity between Japanese faces and Japanese names should not be alloAved to interfere Avith the administration of full justice by enabling malefactors to go into hiding. Large Area to be Combed.

In all probability the Australian, Government has no real cause for Avorry lest murderers and torturers should escape. The feeling of the United Nations has been aroused. All that is needed is time in which to comb a large part of Asia and the Pacific for the “Avanted” men—an area more extensive by far and more scattered than Avas the case in Germany after the final push. While admitting that the criminals must not go unpunished, one Sydney neAvspaper points out the folly and danger of Avreaking vengeance for its own sake. It is true that the whole nation cannot be forced to live in perpetual misery because, largely on account of the policy dictated by its military caste, it has chosen to attempt the seizure of poAver and territory through aggression. Fortunately the Emperor Hirohito appears to have been a strong influence in breaking the stranglehold Avhich the Samurai had on the country. Probably the proportion of Avar criminals among the Samurai Avill be very high. The pseudo-chivalry knoAvn as bushido did not count for much when it Avas thought that rich lands. lay vulnerable to conquest and the creation of the neAV “co-prosperity sphere.” The lessons due to be taught these individuals should be one of the factors in the successful re-education of the entire race. If the Emperor proves himself to be permanently co-operative, he Avill be of more enduring A-alue to the Allies than he has been in fostering the right atmosphere for a surrender ceremony unaccompanied by troublesome incidents. Problem of Living-Space

One Avorrying thought concerns the problem of lioav Japan’s teeming millions are to be confined within little more than the homeland territory. Through the Avar they have lost a great deal of living-space and must sacrifice industries Avhich afforded employment for a large number of the population. At the same time no other country Avill Aveleome the Japanese as immigrants—certainly not in their present state of civilisation. It looks as though re-education of the nation—a long and difficult task—Aid 11 have to be fairly complete before the resultant change of heart Avins them a place among the peace-loving countries. In the meantime the thoughts of the people of the United nations Avill be Avith the mercy ships, transport planes. and other relief expeditions speeding to the areas Avhere the Allied servicemen and civilians have not yet been liberated. Reports on the condition of the people in the Netherlands Indies, Malaya and other oppressed localities are being awaited Avith some anxiety. Apparently the treatment in some prison camps has been worse than in others—depending on the mental outlook of individual Japanese commanders. Revelations by released prisoners, hoAvever, are not reassuring. • The only consolation is that, there seems to have been a slight improvement in some camps in more recent times, partly the result of intervention by protecting Poavcvs and partly because the Japanese must haA-e realised they Avere facing Nemesis.