JAPANESE PEOPLE CALM

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23281, 17 August 1945, Page 5

JAPANESE PEOPLE CALM

Concern For Emperor Whole Nation Prostrate By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright (11.0 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 16. The Emperor ordered Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, aged 58, to form a new Cabinet. He is the Empress Nagako’s uncle. The Domei News Agency reports that after hearing Hirohito’s broadcast the Japanese people, though overcome with sorrow, showed no discontent and remained extremely calm. Practically all heard the broadcast and were filled with awe at the thought that they had failed his Majesty and caused him grave concern. His Majesty s decision to end the war was a supreme order which the services must obey at any cost. Tokio radio says it may take some time, even several days, before the Imperial order to cease hostilities reaches the frontline units in some remote islands or mountain areas. An official communication to this effect will be made direct to General MacArthur’s Headquarters. The Tokio radio in a Japanese language broadcast beamed to the Orient quoted the resigning Cabinet proclamation as saying that in the days ahead the Japanese are faced with further difficulties and hardships demanding greater endurance. It added: “We. the Cabinet here, repress our fears of grief and dare request our comrades to seek this revenge. _ Tire Associated American Press sale there was no elaboration and pointed out that the text varied with tht English language broadcast, in whict the Cabinet was quoted as urging thf people “to face this difficulty squarely. The “New York Times” said the proclamation admitted that there was n< way for Japan to realise her objective 'Science brought a change In ths method of warfare with the use oi t new bomb which has a destructivi power unprecedented in history. The Japanese forces were told by radio "We have come to the point where it li useless to resist the enemy any longer Our nation has sued for peace.”

Weeping Emperor The Tokio radio pictured tears streaming down Hirohito’s face when he told the Cabinet his intention to surrender his nation, upon which the Ministers and Privy Councillors were soaked in tears. The broadcast said the Emperor began weeping when he declared he could no longer endure to see his subjects killed in the fire of battle. He then lifted his white-gloved hr nd and brushed aw’ay the tears that streamed down his face. The Domei Agency reported • that everybody in Japan did their weeping when the Emperor went on the air. Upon hearing his voice 100,009,000 people prostrated themselves on the ground, shedding bitter tears of selfexamination and self-reproach, and editors listening to Hirohito’s voice were weeping as the message was being written.

Still Unregenerate Mr Hanson Baldwin, writing in the “New York Times,” says: “The manner of the Japanese surrender and broadcasts from Japan are simple proof that the -enemy is still unregenerate and recalcitrant. It is obvious that the Japanese are trying to preserve and perpetuate the institutions and traditions that helped to bring on this war. The enemy insistence upon the Emperor’s retention, the recent exhortation from a member of the royal family to destroy completely the strong enemy and the declaration from the Tokio radio ‘we have lost, but this is temporary,’ do not smack of a defeated nation willing to change its ways, but of a treacherous, slippery enemy still trying to escape the consequences of his own acts. These indications are all the more alarming- because the Potsdam Declaration, which the Japanese accepted, gives them more lenient terms, at least initially, than Germany received. “Now more than ever is the time to guard against treachery, both physical and mental. The Japanese militarists are no less dangerous than the Nazis. Even more easily in the Pacific than in Europe we can lose the peace if the resolution of the American people flags or our will weakens to seal victory and accomplish the purposes of peace.”