Evening star., 1943-04-24

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neSe concept is David Lawrence.
correct, then the Japanese airmen
and naval officers who participated
In the raid on Pearl Harbor on De-
cember 7, l941, before formal noti-
fication was received by our Gov
ernment that relations were termi-
mated, committed an act of outlawry
which merits punishment for all
those who participated
Theoretically, the American Gov
ernment would be justified in pun
ishing the members of the Japanese
government who ordered the Pearl
Harbor attack, for it was fragrant
violation of all the customs and
codes of intercourse between civil
zed governments.
The wrath of the American people
over the execution of the airmen by
the japanese Is rising. The Japa-
nese will not know until the war is
over the enormity of their blunder
in executing some of Maj. Gen.
James H. Doohttle's men. Now the
American people will demand a war
without quarter against the japanese
cities and towns and a burning of all
the areas where military installations
are to be found.
Japan will find no sympathy in the
united States when her bamboo viii
lagos start to burn as consequence
of raids by United Nations bombers.
There will be no sympathy, either,
when the day of surrender comes
and the leaders Of the militarist
government are tried and punished
for their mistreatment Of prisoners
OF war.
Notice to Japan that America
expects to punish specific individuals
responsible for the attack on Pearl
Harbor and for the execution of the
Doolittle airmen would be an inter-
esting step for the United States
Government to take. The publica-
ton now OF the list of individuals
who are believed to have had a part
in ordering the attack on Pearl
Harbor and in the executions might
play a part in notifying the Japa-
nese people that 1t is not the inno-
cent but their leaders against whom
drastic punitive measures will be
taken,
All members of the japanese cab
met in ONCE on December 7, 1941,
= when the executions were ordered,
could be enumerated, as doubt
less our own intelligence system
knows just who these officials are
There Is some evidence, from a
reading of the published Toxic
broadcasts since news of the eXecu-
tions was announced by the Presi-
dent, that the japanese know a
wave OF hatred has been generated
by the incident. Certainly, they
know in Berlin how to appraise this
kind of behavior
- If the object was to intimidate
American airmen, the Japanese are
due for some surprises. If the
theory was that the forces of the
United States are soft and could
be scared off, the idea soon will be
fdissipated. For the japanese may
we'll inquire why the news was so
dramatically revealed on the ami
versary of the raid, especially when
the information was broadcast long
before by the japanese themselves.
To Inspire Relentless Attack.
The news was withheld in the
hope that it could be disproved, but
when the American Government
came to the conclusion it was true,
the announcement was made at a
time when the world could read the
story of the raid and the aftermath
Atogether.
News of the executions will travel
4faSt throughout the armed services
f.of the United States. 1t has been
broadcast across the Pacific. 1t will
be heard by airmen in every theater
of war. When the time comes for
the final push against Japan, it will
be relentless one, with the recol-
lection Of the murder of the Ameri-
"can flyers constantly in mind.
The American Army, Navy and
Marine Corps have had occasion to
regard Japanese as treacherous even
after they surrender. There has
been tendency to take no chances
with prisoners. Certainly, the
Americans have not turned out to
be soft group of individuals, but
toughened fighters.
The Japanese who ordered the
execution may still be cherishing
the illusion that an invasion of
Japan by air or by naval and Army
units will be delayed if not pre-
vented by mere threats. The Japa-
fneSe have misjudged the American
psychology. From stimulus stand
point, the execution of the ,airmen
has done more than anything else
since the attack on Pearl Harbor
to stir up the fighting spirit of
America against Japan.
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