The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1949-05-05
Absolve Hirohiio
ZOE War Guilt on
We Of Birthday
AZ EARNEsT HoBEnECfII

U01x00 TSeSS DALI NO1xeSpOuO0oe
TOKYO May S CUP)-Little
"democratized" Emperor Hirohito
was 48 years old April % and
for the first time since the begin
ming of the occupation he will be
able to celebrate without fear that
some day he may wind up in pri-
son or On the gallows. nz-...
Although still the center OF q
controversy that probably never
will end, he knows that he will
not have to face a court of Allied
judges. The "humanized" former
"Son of Heaven" can breathe cas-
Ter as a Consequence of the March
ruling by Far Eastern Commits
sion which said there will be nc
more trials of japanese suspected
of plotting aggressive wars.
The ruling and announcement
by the commission was the frs,
public statement that the trials
were over and that no more would
be tried, except for actual afro
cities. Although there had been
many indications that Hirohito
was "safe," it took the FEC an
nouncement to make it really Of
fetal. :.....-.... 1,
Until then, there always was the
chance that he might be sentenced
to he hanged. as were Hideki TolC
and those six other Class A Japa-
nese war criminals.
Webb Dissents
At the conclusion of the TOTO
trial, the tribunal president, Sir
William Webb of Australia, issued
a separate opinion on the courts
verdict in which he named Hiro-
hito as the leader Of the crime.
Sir William complained that al
though Hirohito had been avail
able for trial, ''he had been grant
ed immunity"
The chief allied prosecutor, Jo-
seph keenan,, told the United Press
at the time that Hirohito had
been granted immunity "for polit-
ical reasons" However, Keenan,
insisted, even on the basis OF the
evidence there was no reason 70
indict the Emperor.
"The evidence showed the EN-
peror to be a weak character, in
our own occidental concept, but
always on the side Of peace" Kee-
nan said.
Sir William, while willing to adj
nit that "the evidence indicates
that he was always in favor OF
peace" insisted that the Emperor
could have prevented the war il
he had desired to use his power.
He blamed him for lodging his
responsibilities.
Opinion Divided
The same division Of opinion ex-
lists today in Japan. There still are
arguments on this subject; allied
nationals against allied nationals,
and japanese against japanese.
Some of the most bitter criticism
against the Emperor comes nom
the japanese Communists but It
would be unfair to say that they
are the only people who believe
he should pay for his "war guilt, "
or who feel that his continued
presence on the throne is q deter
ment to democracy.
On the other hand there are nu-
merous persons, officials Of Gen.
Douglas MacArthur's headquart-
ers included, who believe that EN-
peror Hirohito has been a good
instrument for the promotion Of
democracy in Japan.
He has renowned his divinity,
has Initiated tours which enabled
him to come in contact with the
people, and has repeatedly voiced
views in keeping with the aims Of
the occupation.
He repeatedly likes his new nom
political role as Symbol of the
state" under the new constitution
which made him even more of a
figurehead than the King of Great
Britain.
His popularity will be shown to-
morrow on Tencho-setsu, the i'm.
perial birthday, when thousands Of
people from all over Japan gather
on the imperial palace plaza ia
wish him happiness On the day
which Is one Of the important ma
tional holidays.