Evening star., 1945-09-06
Going Seen Tougher
For Jap MiIiturists
Macarthur Soon to Bear Down
on War Criminals, Says Writer
By David Laurence

on War Criminals, Says Writer
BY Dauid Laurence
The going will get tougher and tough
er for the japanese militarists. Gen.
Macarthur Is calmly distributing his
forces in strategic centers. but soon he
will apply the process Of punishment
to those war criminals who performed
acts OF barbarism in the course Of pure
ly military operations.
The torturing OF prisoners and the
denial to men wearing the uniform of
the United States of the privileges and
rights granted by international conven-
ton will be thoroughly examined. This
is entirely apart from trials Of civilian
war criminals who may be found guilty
OF acts Of aggression.
Publication of the formal documents
revealing the messages exchanged be-
tween the governments OF the United
States and Japan through the medium
OF the Swiss government Is designed as
a background for the disciplinary ac-
ton that Is soon to follow.
There has been an idea here and
there in Washington that the purpose
OF the revelation by the State Depart
ment OF the record on prisoners was to
furnish justification for Americas
use OF the atomic bomb, but this would
appear to be groundless. The matter of
killing noncombatants is entirely sepa-
rate In international law from the in
1uring Of soldiers and sailors who fall
into the hands Of the enemy.
All to Be Called to Book.
Gen. MacArthur's responsibilities in
volye the application Of measures of
justice to the military personnel of ia
pan-members OF its army, navy or air
forces who participated in acts of cruel
ty where our prisoners were concerned.
This does not mean that the supervisors
OF prison camps which were admins
tered by japanese military officers and
which contained civilian internees who
were mistreated will be immune from
punishment. On the contrary, 1t Is to
be expected that all japanese guilty OF
book and severely punished and, in IN
stances where death resulted, 1t would
not be surprising if the death penalty
were applied by our occupying armies.
The occupation of Japan is neces-
sarily gradual process so as to avoid
any incidents which might inflame the
population to isolated acts of resistance,
But while the occupation has pro-
ceeded thus far on a peaceful basis,
there may be later on some untoward
incidents as the policy gradually be-
comes more and more severe. Any idea
that the Japanese militarists are to be
treated softly will soon be dispelled.
Dispatches and broadcasts from ia
pan convey contradictory impressions.
Some insist that the Japanese do not
show they are beaten and others speak
OF the acceptance of defeat, but OF a
tendency to blame themselves rather
than credit our military achievements
1t is always difficult to read the mind
OF vanquished people. Outward signs
OF sadness and disappointment in de-
feat may easily be construed as sullen-
ness or arrogance
Truth Reaching People.
Actually, as the truth is slowly dinned
into the ears of the Japanese over radio
facilities which we shall soon control
IN entirety and as the japanese press
under our military control begins to
print the truth about Japanese bar
barities during the war, the Japanese
people will discover for the first time
what motivated the United States In
marshaling all its might for an all-out
war against Japan.
A people which has been kept from
knowing the facts throughout the war
and which had been told lies about
their own alleged military and naval
victories cannot overnight be adjusted
to the shock of defeat. That is why
the ruling powers in Japan advised
caution and even the use of camou-
f1aged phrases until the occupying
armies could land and take over mill
tary control. What mistaken CORE
spondents in the Far East claimed was
"stalling" on the part Of the Japanese
a fortnight ago was really an effort to
assure a peaceful occupation and the
ending OF all bloodshed. The Japanese
officials who were educated in Britain
and the United States unquestionably
were influential in securing the piece
meal program of occupation as a means
Of assuring its success.
Whether the Japanese people, when
they learn the truth, will turn their
hatred toward their own officials who
misled them or will react as any de-
feated people does with thoughts Of
revenge in later years remains, of course.
to be seen, but war hatreds can be
made to and do vanish and sometimes
former enemies in due time even be-
come allies.
(Reproduction Riahts RAseryedl