FIGHT TO THE END

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 11 June 1945, Page 5

FIGHT TO THE END

JAP PREMIER’S CONVICTION DIET’S MOBILISATION MEASURES EVERY HOME TO BE FORTIFIED New York, June 10. The “New York Times” publishes the full text of Admiral Suzuki’s speech to the Diet in which he said: “There is no one in the entire world more deeply concerned with world peace than the Emperor. The brutal inhuman acts of both Britain and the U.S. are aimed to make it* impossible for us to follow out a national policy based on justice and righteousness. This means that Japan is fighting the war to uphold the principle of human justice. Therefore we must fight to the last,” Admiral Suzuki three times stated his conviction: “We must fight to the last.” Tokio radio says the War Ministry is publishing and distributing a booklet instructing every Japanese, including women, to fortify their homes for a fight to the death against the invaders. The radio also said the Diet was considering a Volunteer Corps Bill calling on women aged 17 to 30 and men from 15 to 60 years to fight as regulars if the invasion occurs. GOVERNMENT RIGHTS AND POWERS Tokio radio announced that the Government has introduced an unprecedented epoch-making bill asking the Diet to transfer to the Government virtually all rights and powers to deal with production or transport shortages. In a brief Imperial rescript, j Emperor Hirohito, called on the people to fulfil the purpose of a holy war. The Navy Minister. Admiral Yonai, said: “The war situation on the Okinawa sector is not in our favour, but| victory always belongs to those who fight best in the last five, minutes. Near|. ly all the navy’s air, surface and underi. sea units have joined a special attack corps which has had enormous successes against American shipping.” Admiral Yonai claimed that about 50 per cent, of the American aircraft carriers and cruisers and 30 per cent, of the auxiliary carriers and battleships off Okinawa have been sunk or heavily damaged. He urged the Japanese people to follow the example of the special attack corps in the event of th' invasion of Japan. NO UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER According to Tokio radio the Premier, Admiral Suzuki told a specially convened Diet to-day: “The enemy’s boasts about unconditional surrender for Japan would mean outright death for all _the 100,060,000 population. There is no alternative but to fight. We will crush the invaders of the homeland by concentrating great armies. Meanwhile, Japan eagerly desires further promotion of friendly relations with the neutral Powers.”

The United Press of America says the Emperor personally opened the .session for the first time in this war. His action is almost unprecedented.