Detroit evening times., 1945-05-28
THE ROAD
TO TOKYO
BY James R.
Young

IN A stack OF Seventh War
~ Loan Bonds / would take an
oath that the two JapS who
committed hara-kirl in the Nazi
sub which was brought 10 Ports
mouth. y H., killed themselves
because they would have lost
face al being taken prisoner
with their German partners.
a Jap who dives his bomber
ihto-s fHil lighted hospital
mercy ship. such as the USS
Comfort off Okinawa. trusts
that the explosion will send his
spirit in flight from his evil
deed 10 a Shinto military shrine
al home.
These ShrineS are military
targets as important as Japans
two, four and six engine air
plane plants. and we must bomb
them as well as the hara-kIri
alrhaSeS.
Ta-encourage these deaths
the emperor has designated two
brothers. Prince Chichibu and
Prince 'faKam9tSu, 10 head an
imperial suicide committee.
Hlrohito's palace gang knows
the value Of eNalting the glory
of the war dead. His approval
will embolden repeated self
murder attacks. The Japanese,
who feel the utmost reverence
for the emperor, oStentatiouSly
show a sacrificing spirit only 10
him. In Aeacetime they would
leap in front of high speed cleo
trio trains, Jump over water
falls, or plunge into Steamlng
volcano craterS. The war has
revealed how deep-rooted is
NipPeRese loyalty 10 the throne.
IF THE Dooiittie fliers had
been permitted 10 bomb the
palace. top Japanese leaders
would have used their swords on
themselves. Our emperor-COd-
dliing policy can lengthen the
war. and II has not eaSed the
miStFeatment of American war
prisoners. On the eighth of each
month. prisoners are compelled
10 bow as they listen to a read
ing efthe emperor declaration
OF war. yet we continue 10 sup
port the strongest mental
weapon Of the Japanese mili-
tarlSts-emperor worship.
] fear that we cannot expect
mass -suicideSIuntif-we have Wig
orous- leadership clarifying
the palace bombing issue. For
example, the chairman Of the
Senate military affairs commit
tee, Ebert y, Thomas, wrote-if,
2 magazine that the emperor is
never responsible under Japa-
nose laws for acts of the Japa-
ncSe government. "
The Utah senator. who taught
in Japan from 1907 10 1912 and
is the author Of a book in Japa-
neSe. overlookS the Japanese
constitutions provision that all
laws are given sanction only by
the emperor; that the empire
Of Japan shall be reigned over
and governed by the emperor
Hirohito opens and diSSolveS
Parliament and even deter
mines legislation 10 pay mill
tary and civilian salaries. He
is in supreme command Of the
army and navy, declares war,
makes peace, concludes treaties,
proClaimS the law Of siege, or
ders amnesty and confers titles
of nobility.
SENATOR THOMAS and
- others fear that We may
tear down the "stabilizing in
fluenCe' of the emperor and
that to touch his person would
he deemed a SaCrilege by mil
lions Of Japanese,
IF monltored FEC hroadCaSts
are correct. II is perpleXlng
how Japanese morale could he
more effectively boosted than
by our present war and state
department policy Of not con-
demning the imperial system.
JapanS all-out effort for COM
plete mobilization is enormous
and effective. In these circum-
stances It. is impossible 10
imagine how our officials in
Washington adhere 10 the view
that the emperor's death would
give a further sustained impe-
tuS 10 Japanese war resist
ance. On the contrary, l be-
lieve that we should attack this
imperial menace and thereby
bring about immediate diStlnte-
grafton and suicide.
Some hold that 10 attack the
emperor would bring retribu-
tion 10 Americans who are
prisoners of war. The mon
StrouS threat 10 massacre de-
fenseleSs prisoners in retalla-
tion for any injury 10 Hirohito
Is the logical result Of the bar
barous theory of emperor wor-
ship which the Japanese have
created and which many Of our
policy planners support. The to-
tai defeat of Japan will be our
supreme opportunity for ending
this menace to humanity which
is inherent i'm the emperor cult.
NOR the war criminal record
Il on Hirohito / submit the
following unalloyed japanese
word vision of the Son of
Heaven:
THE distinction between
rtlar and enh ipaf Ia vital and