MOVE ASCRIBED TO EMPEROR

Southland Times, Issue 25748, 11 August 1945, Page 5

MOVE ASCRIBED TO EMPEROR

“Anxious To Enhance Cause Of Peace”

(Rec. 2 a.m.) LONDON, August 10. The Japanese Government message said: “In obedience to the gracious command of the Emperor, who is ever anxious to enhance the cause of world peace and desires earnestly to bring about an early termination of hostilities with a view to saving mankind from the calamities to be imposed upon them by a further continuation of the war, the Japanese Government asked several weeks ago that the Russian Government, with which neutral relations ’ then prevailed, should give its good offices in restoring peace with the enemy powers. “Unfortunately, these efforts in the interests of peace having failed, the Japanese Government, in conformity with the august wish of his Majesty to restore the general peace and put an end to the untold sufferings entailed by the war as quickly as possible, decided on the following: ‘The Japanese Government is ready to accept the terms enumerated in the joint declaration issued at Potsdam on July 26 by the heads of the Governments of Britain, America and China and later sub- • scribed to by the Soviet Government, with the understanding that the said declaration docs not , ‘ comprise any demand which prejudices his Majesty’s prerogatives as sovereign ruler.’”

EMPEROR HIROHITO of Japan, who is 44 years old, succeeded to the throne on December 25, 1926. _ He is the son of the Emperor Taisho and a grandson of the Emperor Meiji, who in the middle of the last century freed Japan from the centuries-old rule of the Tokugawa Shoguns and restored the power of the palace. Taisho’s latter years were clouded by insanity and for some years before he ascended the throne, Hirohito acted as Regent. After his accession Hirohito introduced a simpler mode of Jiving to the Japanese Court and is reported to have offended many of the traditional militarists. He married in 1924, Princess Nagako, a daughter of the late Kuniyoshi Kuni. Hirohito has issue two _ sons and four daughters. The Heir-Appar-ent is Prince Akihito Tsugu-No-Miya, who was born on December 23, 1933. The brothers of the Emperor are Prince Yasuhito Chichibu, Prince Nobuhito Takamatsu, who married a grand-daughter of the late Shogun Tokugawa, and Prince Takahito Mikosa.