Evening star., 1945-10-04
Japs Told 10 Lift
Curbs on Free
Speech, Religion
MocArthurAIsoO Orders
Releasing of 5000
Political Prisoners
B. the Associated Press.

tlonary decree, Gen. Macarthur
today ordered the japanese gov
ernment to remove all bars to
freedom of speech, religion and
assembly, disband the brutal,
still-active thought police" and
release their 5000 political pris-
oners by October 10.
In a letter to the newly organ
tzed Japanese Central Liaison Of
fee, Gen. Macarthur told the i'm
perial government bluntly and
clearly to abolish all legislation re-
stricting freedom of the people.
The letter also demanded removal
from Office of Home Minister Iwao
Yamazaki and chiefs of the Tokyo
and Osaka Metropolitan Police
Boards and of the territorial police
of Hokkaido.
Japs Demand Release.
The orders went out amid a ris-
ing clamor by Japanese for release
of the prisoners arrested by the
thought police" for voicing ideas
which we're not in agreement with
the presurrender government. The
prisoners have been confined for
years in fetid jails from the SOUTH
western tip of Japan to the north
ernmost home island of Hokkaido
sometimes called "Japan's Siberia" I"
Tokyo newspapers in the last week
have reported the prison deaths of
several of these political prisoners
Yamazaki, who heads the thought
police" blandly denied any knowl-
edge of the prisoners in an interview
with the Associated Press today. He
did admit that his men still were
on the job, and said they were being
especially vigilant against any Japa-
nese daring to advocate "elimina-
. tion of fhe imperial house, over
throw of the constitution, violence
against Americans or the japanese
government"
% The ministers said his police were
mot so harsh" as before the occupa-
ton, but that their methods of
operation were unchanged from war
and prewar days.
Explains Confscation.
Yamazaki explained in the inter-
view that the Home Ministry's
recent attempt to confiscate news
papers printing pictures of Emperor
Hirohito calling on Gen. Macarthur
and American correspondents inter-
views with the Emperor was in
tended to prevent possible roper
cussion among the people" He
acknowledged, however, that when
the picture and interviews did ap-
pear on the streets by order of Gen.
Macarthur. there was no reaction
at all"
Yamazaki seemed unimpressed by
the fact that the Potsdam agree
ment guaranteed the japanese peo-
pie the right to select the kind of
government they desired.
He said he felt that it was a main
duty of the Home Ministry to pre-
vent any expression against the
imperial house. The thought
police" were particularly vigilant
against leftists or Communists, he
said, because they advocate elimi-
nation of the imperial house
Gen. MacArthur's five-page letter
to the Japanese government was
read to correspondents by Col. Ken
r. Dyke, chief of the Allied COM
mand's Civil Information and Edu-
cation Service.
May Say What They Think.
It said in effect that the people of
Japan are to be allowed to say what
they think-including expressions
about the Emperor, worship as they
choose, hold meetings as they de-
sire and not be fearful that the
police will throw them into prison.
Gen. Macarthur demanded that
the Japanese government turn over
to him the files of the thought
police" and complete information on
the prisons and prison personnel.
Col. Dyke said American guards
had been placed on watch over
Home Ministry records to prevent
destruction of material relating to-
political prisoners. He said he fore
saw difficulty in the release of the
political prisoners, because they had
not been labeled as such and were
scattered all over Japan.
Ordered to Report by Oct. Is.
The Central Liaison Office, direct
link between Allied headquarters
and the Japanese government, was
told to submit comprehensive re-
port" by October Is, detailing action
taken to place the orders into effect.
Gen. Macarthur concluded the
order with the statement: 4
'All officials and subordinates of
the japanese government affected
by terms of this directive will be
held personally responsible and
strictly accountable for compliance
with and adherence to the spirit and
letter of this directive"
Gen. MacArthur's order was is
sued as advance units of the United
States 77th Infantry (Statue of
Liberty Division made the first oc-I
cupational landing on the northern
most island of Hokkaido at Hako-
date. The remainder will move in
tomorrow at Otaru and take over
the capital city of Sapporo.
A~@.s~.n .uI I.ne ksIInI