EMPEROR HIROHITO

Grey River Argus, 15 August 1945, Page 5

EMPEROR HIROHITO

I Early Abdication Indicated ■ BROTHER AS REGENT (Rec 9.3Q)'-' RUGBY, August 14 The London “Times’s” Washington 'correspondent says: Enemy casts indicate that the J people are being prepared for tne possible abdication of Emperor Hirohito in favour of his son, with the (Emjperoir’s brother as Regent ol The Yorkshire “Post" says: “Hints have come from the Japanese military Attache at Stockholm that Em peror Hirohito will probably dicate in favour 1 of the Crown J mce, who is a boy of twelve, and colour is lent to this supposition by attempts that are being made in the Japanese Press to build up devotion to the Crown Prinjte in this moment ot national crisis. Such a plan would mean the setting up of a Council Of Reuenc’y, and, so, would avoid in volving Emperor Hirohito in the indignity of carrying out the dictates of the Allied command. WARNING TO JAPANESE. AGAINST’ A NATIONAL SPLIT(Rec. 10.40.) LONDON, August 14. , The Tokio newspaper Shimbun gave a warning against any fatal internal split amongst the Japanese The paper admitted that the worst has come. It urged that every Jap anese shall obey whatever decision the Emperor makes. The “Shimbun” commented: Naturally, everyone has his own opinion about how things came to this pass. He or she may have indignation; but discussions on past developments are of no avail. Under the present circumstances they might lead to fatal dissension. National unity is the only way in which Japan can cope with this situation. Fortunately, His Majesty’s decision on any matter,'""whether civilian or military, is final and is the best. One must obey readily and unquestionably the ‘final word spoken from the Throne, even if such command should not be in line with one’s own individual desire.” ENGLISH PRESS VIEWS SUSPICIOUS OF~JAP LEADERS (Rec. 9.50) RUGBY, August 14 A writer in. the Yorkshire “Post” referring to the suggested abdication of Hirohito, said: Some sections of Allied opinion might approve or a device which would remove from the Throne the man who has. become identified with Japan’s, long career of international crime; but it is to be hoped that, before any such arrangements receives Allied sanction Emperor Hirohito will be compelled to sign an instrument of surrender. The London “Daily Telegraph” says: We feel that no great subtlety has been shown by Japanese leaders in delaying the inevitable. There was a Tokio statement on Monday that the Allied reply to Japan’s offer to surrender had only just been received. That statement could not serve any useful purpose. That statement," set against an announcement of anothei’ conference between the Emperor and Foreign Minister, Tojo who is a fanatical militarist, it proved that the situation had got out of control. There are, evidently, two, and probably more than two, opinions among the Japanese chiefs about what is now the best course for them to take. Some of thetn would die, or at least make most people die, in the last ditch. Others are for peace on any terms, till terms can be broken. The result is compromise to postpone surrender as long as possible. The “Daily Telegraph” writer continued: We should certainly be on guard against assuming that, with Emperor Hirohito reduced to being a tool in the. hands of a Supreme Allied Comander, all of the difficulties will be easily overcome. We would give' a reminder that the Emperor cult was revived last century to serve militarist and economic ambitions of Japanese ruling clans. Despotism, tempered by assassination, is a fair description of Japan through the last thrity years. When Emperor Hirohito performs what the Allies demand from him, and that is to say when he gives the Japanese Army and Navy leaders orders to surrender, it is not certain whether they will all obey him. Those who do obey may be in peril of their lives from more ferocious and more fanatical warriors. The Allies must be prepared for treachery now, and the only security for the future is their establishment of a system which militarists ’cannot dominate. Australian Fears OF JAP. EMPEROR. SYDNEY, August 14. , Dr. Evatt’s statement that Japans surrender offer was entirely unacceptable to tfle Australian Government is the official view of the Government. Senior Ministers are leLuctant to amplify Dr. Evatt’s statement, but said that Australia had made its attitude clear in communication with the Big Powers, in the past five or six days. Australia’s objections to any form of protection for Emperor Hirohito are: 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 mvth of the deity of the Emperor is exploited, 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 Japanese militarists to indoctrinate their people with a belief that Japan never lost the war and that the Japanese youth have 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 was relying on the advice of experts on oriental affairs, who had’ 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 a report by Mr. Justice Webb, of Queensland, to the War Crimes Commission, on Japanese atrocities in the Pacific Islands campaign.

Jap. Shelters Stand AGAINST ATOMIC BOMB. (Rec. 11.50.) NEW YORK, Aug. 14. The Singapore radio, in a broadcast quoted a Domei News Agency correspondent, who has recently visited .Hiroshima. He said: “The city’s airraid shelters were strong enough to resist the explosions.” He added: “Although the destructive power of the atomic bomb must not be underestimated’, there has been much exaggeration in the American press.” U.S. NEWS CENSORSHIP ENDING (Rec. 11.5.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 14. The Director of the Censorship, Mr. Byron Price, announced that the news censorship as flom the United Stated will end one hour after President Truman announced victory over Japan,