JAPAN’S PLANS

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1945, Page 5

JAPAN’S PLANS

TRIAL OF MILITARISTS Allied Economic Aid Wanted (Rec. 11.50) NEW YORK, Sept. IS. Prime Minister Higashikuni told Allied pressmen that the Japanese Government contemplate establishing a committee to determine the Japanese responsibility for starting the war, and they intend to try the accused persons if General MacArthur approves. He added that the Japanese Army a»id Navy have already meted out some punishment for prison camp cruelties. He promised that details of this punishment would be released as soon as possible. Replying to a question Prince Higashikuni expressed the opinion that the Emperor is not a war criminal. He said: “Fie was deceived by militarists close to him. He was not told the truth.”

Prince Higashikuni explained that the Cabinet and Imperial headquarters made the decision to start the war and relayed it to the Emperor. According to Japanese custom, if the Cabinet decides, the Emperor does not veto its decision. The Prime Minister said that he himself had no advance knowledge of the Pearl Harbour attack. Prince Higashikuni promised to abolish the Ministries of War and of the Navy, and also gradually lo broaden democratic processes, and to delimit the influence of the House of Peers. He revealed that Japan intended to ask the Allies for financial and material aid to help the country to regain its place in world trade.

TOKIO, Sept. 19

Tokio newspapers reported Prince Higashikuni (Prime Minister) has decided to send an “envoy of apology” lo China because _ of Japan's war crimes against China. General Shizuichi Tanaka shot, himself dead at the headquarters m Tokio of the Internal Defence Army, of which he was commander. Dome! News Agency said: General Tanaka thereby accepted responsibility for the damaging of one of the Imperial palaces in an air raid, .his command included the aerial defence of Tokio. General Tanaka succeeded General Hornrna as Commander oi the Philippines, but he was replaced before their reconquest. . The Allied South-east Asia mand headquarters reDo , rte ? T .^l 1 ?: t I ieutenant-General Hamada Hitochi, Denutv-C’hief of Staff of the Japanese 18th. Area Army, co " l T lt Hitoch"i ride at Bangkok. General Hitocm nine days previously received an o ■ dpi- from Major-General G. C. Evans, commanding Allied land forces in SiaTto (ilsarni all The “Asahi Shimbun, _ like Tokio newspapers, P u X lsh^ ro a c I J ti es ’’ torial about “regretful attociueS’, but the editorial also said, that the Japanese P e ?P le " a ’re mous that the atrocity lepoits were unbelievable; secondly, ihat tne aap anese Government repeatedly ed the moral character of the 1 anese troops, who J e qnd sons at. home. Iheiexoie ii could not be believed that they had committed such cruelties on unarmed masses; and thirdly,. perhaps atrocity reports were issued to oxer shadow the outrages committee by some American soldiers inJapam Another article in the Asahi Shimbun” said the United Slates should awaken to a sense of com pensation for their acts and res P°P" sibilities for reconstruction. We should tell them plainly it is impossible for Japan to attain reconstiui tion by her own power alone. We should' endeavour to have them give us positive co-operation tor the iestoration of Japan.”