Emperor Did Not Want War, Said Nothing

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1945, Page 5

Emperor Did Not Want War, Said Nothing

(Received 11.30 a.m.) TOKIO, December 20. PRINCE KONOYE’S MEMOIRS, WHICH ARE NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE CHIEF WAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR, STATE THAT THERE WAS NO DOUBT OF THE EMPEROR’S SINCERE WISH AT ALL TIMES FOR PEACE. They condemn Japan’s system of Government which permitted a free rein to the Army. “While the Government was carrying on negotiations with all its might, the Army was pushing ahead with its war preparations, but the Government did not know what the preparations were,” he says. “The movement of ships and mobilisation moves became known in the United States creating doubt in the United States of the sincerity of the negotiators. “The Army wanted war and the Navy would not, or could not, oppose the Army.

“The Emperor remarked to me: ‘lt is regrettable about the Army’.” Prince Konoye commented in his memoirs on the fact that the Emperor rarely voiced an opinion to the degree that it might be thought, He was too hesitant.

Prince Konoye added: “Although it was proper that the Emperor be passive in peace time, such passivity when the country was standing at the crossroads of peace or war, led to extr&me difficulties.” NOT UNLESS FORCED

General MacArthur will not name the Emperor of Japan as a war criminal or force his abdication unless evidence of Hirohito’s guilt develops, or unless the Supreme Commander is compelled to act by directive from a higher authority, says the New York “Herald-Tribune” correspondent. However, if the Emperor wishes to abdicate—according to some reports he has been asking General MacArthur to sanction such a move —that is something which the Government and people must work out for themselves.

General MacArthur, who considers that the first major phase of the occupation has concluded with the directive abolishing State Shinto, has again defined the occupation policy in instructions to his commands. These “set forth with striking clarity the opportunity being afforded the completely vanquished enemy to correct the error of its ways." FIRM HOLD

The instructions emphasised again the determination to keep a firm hold on the Japanese people, but that the Government and people must be given every opportunity to carry out the Supreme Commander’s orders without compulsion.

The Supreme Commander will continue to control Japan through the Emperor and other suitable means, but the final form of Government must be one supported by the freely-expressed will of the people. General MacArthur has cautioned commanders that respect for and confidence in the United Nations and their representatives will be developed by example, demonstration and the safeguarding of individual rights.