Detroit evening times., 1945-06-11
ROAD
TO TOKYO.
BY James R.
Young

an emergency ruling that Fill
pino collaborators, and others,
who had aided the Japanese
would be held by u. S. Army
authorities until the war Is
ended. That Gen. Macarthur
showed foresight was demon
strated recently when Brig.
Gen Manuel -Raxas, prem
inent Filipino politician who
was captured by the Japanese.
announced his opposition TO the
current policy of eliminating
from the commonwealth gov-
ernment and the Filipino army
any who had worked for the
Japanese,
AT the time of Gen. Mac
Arthur's proclamation ] asked
a question: How would the rul-
ing apply 10 the Spanish con-
sui general to Manila. Jose Del
CaStano?
For many months | was on
the trail Of Del Castano. A
Filipino army officer told me
that he was killed IN Manila.
A diplomat cautioned me 10
withhold this inside story, ex-
planning that in a few weeks
be VIII turn up very much
alive"
Recently ! was in communi-
cation with Manila in my ef-
fort TO trace the Franco agent,
Imagine then, my surprise 10
learn from the attorney general
Of California, Robert w Kenny
that Del Castano was ATTENDING
the United Nations Conference
Congressman John NJ. Coffee,
Tacoma. Wash, who has kept
the Del CaStano case on the
floor Of Congress. describes him
As a "desplCahle war criminal
who betrayed Americans 10
japanese" "
Consul Del Castano reached
San Francisco IN early May. ac-
cording TO Mr.. Coffee. and he is
lobbying az the conference
with other Spanish delegates.
He travelled with diplomatic i'm
munlty 10 the United States"
ann outraged that Gen.
Mac Arthur and the war depart
ment failed 10 arrest and hold
him for trial" Mr.. Coffee wired
me THE state department has
passed the buck To the war de-
partment. who in turn pass IL
back 10 state"
I WAS the Tokyo correspond.
L cnt for the Manila Herald,
published by Carlos u. Romulo,
now A hricadler general. and
z hlllpplne commissioner 10
Washington.
From that newspaper / first
learned OF Del CaStanos arrival
IN Manila 10 head the Spanish
Falsnge IN the Philippines.
His appointment received
state department approval.
lie had jurisdiction over many
Spanish colleges, shipping con-
Germs. sugar, mining and to-
bacco interests.
Prominent Spaniards at that
time were taking Filipino citi-
Zenship 10 line themselves up
for the day of independence.
Previously Del Castano
worked IN Madrid with a NaH
party organizer. Gen Wilhelm
Won Faupel. who controlled The 20
Nazi- Fascist FalangIst novel
ment in Spain. u
TWO j p 9 $ Q undercover
hangmen IN this odd chain of
international plotters were the
ambassador 10 Madrid, Yaki-
chlro Suma, whom ! knew in
Tokyo as the foreign office
spokesman.
He was active in the Black
Dragon Society, counterpart
OF the FalangiSt
a second japanese was am
baSsador TO Vichy, Takanobu
Mitani. recently seized by l.. s.
Seventh Army troops in Europe.
The Spanish government sent
Genaro RIeStra 10 Havana in
post similar 10 Del Castano's AT
Manila hut within so days of his
arrival Riestra was ordered out
Of Cuba Del CaStano, however,
remained through both the
japanese capture Of Manila and
American-Filipino liberation OF
the city.
He was the neutral repre-
sentative with whom we nego-
tiated on matters concerning
American civilian prisoners Of
war.
His office at go Colorado
street. was the clearing house
for all American Information,
which he could then turn over
to the Japanese ambassador. a
shipping magnate from Osaka,
ShOzo Murata. former governor
of tho 10th District of Rotary
International. and 10 the COM
mander of all Japanese armies
in the Philippines, Gen. Tomo-
yuki Yamashita.
TAPAN'S am b ass d or 10
- Madrid. on Jan 5. 1912. hon
ored the Philippine section OF
the Spanish Falange in appre-
citation of what Del Castano was
accomplishing for the Axis. 4
Frances official paper. Ar
riba. on the occasion editorial
lied that Japan's invasion of the
Philippines had revealed her an
cient and renowned culture and
exceptional human