Entirely Unacceptable to Australia

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 191, 14 August 1945, Page 5

Entirely Unacceptable to Australia

EMPEROR MUST BE COMPLETELY SUBJECT TO ALLIES. MELBOURNE, August 13. The Japanese Government’s offer to surrender provided the Emperor’s prerogative was not changed was entirely unacceptable to the Australian Government, said a statement broadcast in the name of the Minister of External Affairs (Dr. Evatt). He emphasised that it had not been accepted by the British, American, Chinese or Soviet Governments. Dr. Evatt said the Allied reply to Japan declared that the Emperor must authorise and endure the signing of tho surrender and after the surrender be completely subject to the authority of the Allies. One great advantage of this would be that the Emperor would be fully associated with the military disaster which had overtaken Japan. This would help to explode the myth of the supernatural character of the Japanese Throne. Dr. Evatt said that the Australian Government’s view was that the supreme authority for Japan must be vested exclusively in the Allies, with the Emperor entirely subject to their authority. Moreover, no one in Japan, whatever his rank or station, should be given immunity from proved responsibility for policies of aggression or for the barbarous atrocities marking Japan’s conduct of the war. Australia agreed that the future Japanese Government should be freely elected by the Japanese people.