Evening star., 1946-05-01
.1ojo Insists Japan
Foughtin War for
'SeIf-Protection'
BY the Asseeiossd Pres.

TOKYO, May 1.-Hideki TOTO
insisted today from his prison
cell that Japan fought "a war
Of self-protection," and indi-
Gated he would face the Inter-
national War Crimes Tribunal
with no remorse.
In an exclusive, written interview
through his principal japanese at
torney-Ichiro Kiyose-the one
time dictator made his first state
ment on the war since the occupa-
ton.
TOTO acknowledged that he had
spoken against Japan's surrender
proposing continued. resistance-but
denied that he had taken any direct
action to forcibly prevent the en-
peror's surrender rescript.
The bald, stern little man declared
he would express my whole opin-
ion' in court but lodged question
whether he intended to condemn
American leaders while presenting
his defense
Repeats Propaganda Theme.
He said that If, in 194l, Japan
could have taken any other way
than war "as an independent coun-
try I would have taken it." He re-
peated Japan's favorite propaganda,
faith in an Asiatic co-prosperity
sphere, indicating clearly that he
would rest a considerable part of his
defense on the righteousness" of
Japan's war.
KiyoSe visited the former premier
30 minutes today and reported him
in good health and good spirits"
The trial may be held in June.
TOTO, writing his answers to 10
questions in clear, bold characters.
declared:
We did not want to invade any
Oriental countries. 1 thought this
was q war to emancipate Oriental
countries from foreign influences
and enjoy a co-prosperity sphere
OF freedom and equality.
But during the war, in order to
complete it, we could not refrain
from using natural resources (of the
occupied areas and imposing sew
eral restrictions on the people S
right"
Wants New Standard.
He said these restrictions. were to
continue only during the war, after
which the Oriental countries were
to live on "a principle of freedom, u
but the war ended differently and
1t is regrettable that this idea has
taken different shape"
1oJo said he wanted from the
bottom Of my heart, for Japan to
revive in new standard" but did
not explain.
His steadfastness to the same idea
With which he announced the OPEN
ing of the war at least is different
from that OF many japanese. Sew
eral co-defendants now insist they
had nothing to do with the hostili-
ties
Tolo declared he was surprised"
when he was named premier in 1871,
although the late Prince Konoye
and others said TOTO had engineered
the cabinet downfall that placed
him in power.
Believed Japan Would Win.
TOTO refused to answer this oues-
tion: Do you feel now that it was
better that you lived through your
suicide attempt?"
He also refused. to say whether
his decisions would have been Il :
fected II the Japanese Navy n,ure
strongly had opposed war in 1911,
whether he thought all of the prin-
cipal Japanese figures had. been, &C :
cused of war crimes and what he
thought Of the trials in general.
The war-instigating Premier said,
OF course I believed we would win
the war" at the outset but he re-
FUSED to express an opinion on how
or when Japan had lost.
He said he would answer in court
the questions when did he become
convinced that war with the United
States and Britain was inevitable
Until now, he had remained silent.
His answers today indicated the
razor-tongued TOTO won't spare
words when he goes into court.