RUSSIANS FAIL TO REPATRIATE SOME 300,000 JAPANESE

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1949, Page 5

RUSSIANS FAIL TO REPATRIATE SOME 300,000 JAPANESE

TOKIO, Dec. 12 (Recd. 6 p.m.)— General MacArthur’s diplomatic chief, Mr. William Sebald, today described as “unadulterated twaddle” a letter to MacArthur from the head of the Russian mission in Tokio, LieutenantGeneral Derevyanko, accused General MacArthur of working hand In hand with Japanese Fascists against the democratic rights of Japanese workers. The letter followed a Russian walkout from the Allied Control Council yesterday prior to American accusations that Russia was probably responsible for the deaths of more than 300,000 Japanese they failed to repatriate from Siberia. Mr. Sebald said Russia was trying to throw up a smokescreen because they feared that world public scrutiny into the mystery of an unaccounting for 300,000 Japanese repatriates. The fact that so many Japanese died in Russian captivity may implant a deep sense of vengeance in the hearts of the Japanese, said the newspaper, “Jiji Shimpo,” commenting on the accusations by Mr. William Sebald. All newspapers expressed alarm at the prospects that surviving prisoners might “endure” another winter in Russian hands. Most appealed to Russians to at least give the names of those who will not return.—Reuter.