APPROVED DRAFT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23260, 23 July 1945, Page 5

APPROVED DRAFT

President Truman At Potsdam Question Of Emperor (6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 21. The “Army and Navy Journal," says President Truman, carried to the Big Three conference a draft of Japanese surrender terms as favoured by the State, War and Navy Departments. The terms call for the total loss to Japan of what remains of her fleet and air force, as well as for other military disarmament, the less of territory outside the home islands, the destruction of war industries, complete control of Japanese economy by the United Nations and the surrender of designated war criminals. Interest at Potsdam revolves on the question whether the Emperor Hirohito i will be declared a war criminal and! punished accordingly. When Presi- I dent Truman left the United States j the question had not been decided. The Liberals and “New Dealers” were demanding that he be executed, but j others felt that the war lords rather i than he were responsible for Pearl i Harbour and, as the status of the | Emperor had not Involved our security, i the war would be prolonged only if we I should fight to destroy Japan’s religious ; and political systems. Rumours of Japanese peace feelers | find no official support in Washington, yet this has not removed completely I the possibility that Marshal Stalin may | be entrusted with a serious peace,for- ; mula by the Japanese. It may not be I significant that on the eve of his depar- I ture for the Big Three meeting the ' Japanese Ambassador to Moscow conferred with M. Molotov.