Evening star., 1948-12-23

KANSAS CITY.-HOME FOR
wisherS at the airport yesterday
Mrs. Truman is at the extreme
am. and the traps were sprung at
1920 am.
TOTO was declared dead at 12:101a
am.
Newsmen were barred by order
of Gen. Macarthur. Official wit
neSses representing Allied nations
whose international tribunal con-
demned the seven japanese were in
Vited.
! There will be no graves for the
seven. The Army cremated them
and scattered their ashes to prevent
enshrinement.
Temple Scene Described.
The Buddhist priest described the
temple scene with TOTO and the
other three in the first group. thus:
"Tojo. Matsui. Doihara and Muto
came down from the third floor eS-
corted by guards. put an incense
burner before each so he could
easily burn his incense with his
handcuffed hands. Then I had
them write their names on pieces
of paper with brushes. I offered
them biscuits, but only Matsui
forced one down,
Then they drank wine with
obvious relish. then the water that
had been placed before them. I read
! four songs out of hymn book All
listened with lowered heads Since
it was not very light and all had
left their glasses behind, they could
not read with me.
/ There was still some time so
some one proposed three banzais.
! Matsui being the eldest, was chosen
to lead the shouting. All shouted
in unison, following Matsui-three
banzais for the Emperor and Dai
Nippon.
Then I and the Christian chap
lain and four or five United States
Army officers who were present
shook hands with the men about
to die
"It was the first time I had
touched a Class A criminal since
I had been forbidden to approach
them, closer than 10 feet by prison
authorities.
Shook Hands With Condemned,
"I and the chaplain led the pro-
cession to the death house. The
condemned followed. then the
guards and then the officer Of the
day.
"At the doorway to the death
house, I stepped aside and wished
them to go pleasantly Each sntl-
ingly thanked me and we shook
hands. I went back to prepare for
the second batch, which was much
the same as the first"
Hanayama did not say whether
the second group shouted banzais.
After the second group went into
the death house, Hanayama said he
heard their bodies falling.
Some minutes later, he said, the
bodies were in cofins.
There were no sheets covering
the deceased" he said. There was
no designation of their faces"
Hanayama refused to explain how
he knew this. Buddhist tradition
forbids him to say he saw the face
of a dead man
The priest said the war criminals
died with complete lack of worry
and full of happiness" He added,
Their attitude was magnificent"
More Appeals Planned.
The hanging of the former Japa-
nese leaders probably halted only
momentarily test of international
law.
Attorneys for some Of the 10 other
japanese who were given prison SEN
tences ranging from seven years to
life still have further action under
consideration.
They intend to test the right of
victorious nations to try the leaders
of the losing side for any crime other
than breaking the conventional laws
of war.
All but one of the Is defendants
were convicted of conspiring to wage
aggressive war although the seven
hanged also were found guilty of
att ocities-a violation of the inter-
national conventions.
May Go to World Court.
Since there is no international law
against conspiring to wage war, at
least one defense attorney plans to
file an appeal with the World Court.
The attorney is Alfred w. Brooks,
Kansas City, Mo-, attorney for
former Premier Kuniaki Koiso and
Gen. Jiro Minami, both sentenced
to life Imprisonment.
Mr.. Brooks said he would take the
action as soon as he can fined a
member nation which will sponsor
the appeal. That is the only way the
| issue can get before that court.