SECRET MEETING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 257, 28 September 1945, Page 5

SECRET MEETING

GENERAL AND EMPEROR. HALE-HOUR~DISCUSSION. (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (10.15 a.m.) NEW iORK, Sept. 27. A secret talk between General MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito was held for half an hour today at General MacArthur's headquarters. -The only others present were General MacArthur's personal photographer and the Emperor's interpreter.

A London correspondent says that it is believed that the meeting was purely social and had nothing to do with the Emperor's future. It is understood that the Emperor has already decided to abdicate, and provision for the redrafting of the" constitution is being made. This would take several months.

The Emperor was driven through streets crammed with Japanese. He was wearing morning clothes and a top hat. The Supreme Commander wore his usual plain khaki uniform. with open shirt and no - decorations. There are indications that the Japanese tried to keep the meeting secret, since the people might feel that the Emperor had suffered loss of face.

Correspondents were not forewarned of the time: of the meeting. An American spokesman explained: "We could not make arrangements for your presence because it would have impaired the dignity of the occasion.

Hirohito arrived at General MacArthur's headquarters at 10 a.m. with a motor-cycle escort and five accompanying motor-cars, reports the National Broadcasting Company's correspondent. Hirohito remained with General MacArthur for 38 minutes in what was unofficially described as a social call.

A headquarters spokesman said General MacArth'ir did not issue a summons; Hirohito had expressed a desire to call on the General.

The New York Times reports that Hirohito was one of the first Japanese leaders General MacArthur has seen. It was unique for the Son of Heaven to move out to see foreigners; there has been no comparable occurrence in. the 2600 years of the dynasty.

RESCUE OF PRISONERS

FAST WORK IN JAPAN. CONCEALING OF ATROCITIES. NEW YORK. Sept. 27. Within a month of -the first Americans landing in Japan, the evaeuativn of an Allied prisoners of war and internees from Japan's home islands has been completed, with the exception of fewer than 500 stragglers.

Colonel M. H. Marcus, of General MacArthur's headquarters,_ attributed the remarkable speed with' which the task has been completed not only to American efficiency but also to Japanese co-operation. "The Japanese are doubtless anxious to get Allied prisoners off their hands," he said. "They hope, in addition to saving food costs, to avoid a thorough, investigation on the spot of prison camp atrocities."

Colonel M. Snyder, who controlled

89 rescue teams, admitted that the Japanese had probably succeeded in their, purpose of concealing many acts' of brutality which now* will be most difficult to prove because the prisoners are scattered and not available for group questioning.

The rescue teams had hoped to get into the camps in time to catch the Japanese "with the goods" and obtain a 100 per cent, dossier. Only 4 per cent, instead was anticipated. Ten per cent, of the prisoners required hospital treatment. The prisoners recovered from Japan seemed in better shape than those found in the Philippines.

In Shanghai American officials have disclosed that three of General DoVlittle's airmen who bombed Tokio were executed at Kiang-wan, China, in October, 1942, after a half-hour Courtmartial conducted entirely in Japanese. The airmen were accused of strafing school children. According to a captured Japanese document, eight were condemned to death and five of the sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. Four of the survivors were liberated from prison camps in China. One died in camp after a 70-day illness. The ashes of the three men who were executed are being sent to the United States.