FAILURE OF EFFORTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21899, 18 December 1945, Page 3

FAILURE OF EFFORTS

WARTIME POLICIES

SON DEFENDS WORK

(10 a.m.) TOKIO, Dec. 17. Micchitakn. a son of Prince Konoye, wiio committed suicide on the eve of his arrest, outlining his last conversation with his father, said it was a matter of great regret that although Konoye tried his best to bring about a solution of the China “incident” and also the successful conclusion of the Jnp.mese-Americnn conversations, lie did net succeed in preventing the situation that Japan was now facing. Konoye felt he was greatly responsible to the Emperor and the people. He had already prepared a memoranda on the 1941 Japanesc-American conversations and also the tripartite alliance, and was willing to be judged by the documents He tried his best to defend the Japanese system of government.

Japanese ex-soldiers apparently consider Tojo and Konoye to be equal war criminals. At least one incident is reported of veterans roaming the streets, spitting on and tearing down a newspaper bill announcing Konoye's death. The soldiers have small love for those who brought Japan to war.