Japanese Tell People To Be Calm, Polite

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1945, Page 7

Japanese Tell People To Be Calm, Polite

(Received 32.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 23. A DOMEI BROADCAST ANNOUNCED THE FOLLOWING A RULES OF CONDUCT LAID DOWN FOR THE JAPANESE: “The occupation will be carried out peacefully. The people must remain calm and not move about while Japanese forces are withdrawing. No anxiety regarding order need be felt since Japanese police and gendarmerie are remaining on duty. “The people should disregard childish rumours and place absolute reliance on the authorities. “The people should refrain from individually approaching occupation troops. When approached by members of the occupation forces the people should display courtesy. “Tiie people should not abandon their homes and should not become agitated regarding means of travel, as the occupation forces are not taking over transportation facilities indiscriminately. , . “In any event the people must not resort to fisticuffs or display violence.” Domei said an extraordinary session of the Diet will be convened on September 2-3. General Sadamu Shimomura, supreme commander of the Japanese forces in North China, has been appointed War Minister, relieving Prince Higashi-kuni of this post.

MacArthur’s Instructions General MacArthur announced that the following must be carried out by 6 p.m. on Monday: The Yokosuka base must be prepared for occupation and possible operation by United States, naval forces. All coinbatant units must be removed from the area of the initial occupation and confined to assigned limits, except all civil police and gendarmerie, who will maintain rrder, prevent outbreaks of sniper tire and other overt acts, and prohibit and prevent any substantial gathering of me populace. The civil police and gendarmerie will carry only small arms. Personnel at Oshima may remain. but will be disarmed. Accommodation, billets and camp facilities for the Supreme Commander must be provided. The following order must be executed by 6 a.m. on Tuesday: Members of the Imperial General Staff must be made available for conference with the representative of the Supreme Commander at Atsugi aerodrome immediately he arrives, also as may be directed.

Ensure Safe Entry

f urther instructions are

In order to ensure safe entry into the Tokio Bay area, a Japanese ship not later than 8 a.m. on Sunday must meet the United States naval forces 20 miles, bearing 135 degrees, from Oshima, and must lead those forces into Sagami Bay. The Japanese must provide 12 pilots to conduct certain forces into Tokio Bay as directed by the senior United States naval commander.

Allied forces will be taking the following general measures by G a.m. on Saturday: Firstly, United Nations aircraft will conduct day and night surveillance flights over Japan and Japanese-controlled areas. Secondly, air forces will be dropping supplies to United Nations war prisoners and internees. Thirdly, naval forces occupying Japanese coastal waters, also Japanese-controlled areas, may begin mine-sweeping unmolested in any of eight specified ports, including Osaka, Tsingtao, Shanghai, Canton, Hongkong and Singapore. More Surrenders.

The United States Navy announced that the commander of the small Japanese garrison on Mili Island, in the Marshalls group which was by-passed 18 months ago. surrendered yesterday aboard a United States destroyerescort. American forces will occupy Mili within a few days. A Tokio broadcast says that in the Celebes Japanese officers and troops are not attempting any resistance. in the Philippines several thousand Japanese troops in Northern Luzon surrendered yesterday, although they took some convincing that the war was over. The Japanese in other areas of the Philippines also are expected to give up soon.

Smoothing The Way Tokio newspapers continue the campaign to smooth the way for the Allied occupation, telling the people they could, expect their treatment by the" conquerors to reflect exactly the people’s own actions. Tnc “Yomiuri Kochi” pointed out that peace and order were among the chief Allied demands. Accordingly, the manner in which the demand was met would determine largely whether Japan would be able to lay down a basis for national reconstruction. The “Nippon Times,” in a leader, says: “For Japan’s own good there must be speedy realisation that the old order has finished and that the work of building the new world must be started immediately. Any lingering adherence to obsolete deficient ideas, which have been responsible for Japan's present plight, will only intensify and prolong the disaster. Any attempt to fool ourselves regarding the utter decisiveness of our predicament will not only be dishonest and cowardly, but will actually injure the chances of our recovery.” General Wetlemeycr has ordered United States forces in China not to fraternise with the Japanese. He added that all contacts must be official, courteous, impersonal and firm. Signing On Battleship General MacArthur has announced that the Japanese surrender document will be signed on August 31 on board tiie American battleship Missouri in Tokio Bay. Colonel L. M. Cosgrave is expected to represent Canada at the signing of the Japanese surrender. Colonel Cosgrave- is due at Manila from Australia today, and will supervise the repatriation of Canadian war prisoners.