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Parent Addition of Legal Personnel
Date 6 December 1946
Language English
Collection Tavenner Papers & IMTFE Official Records
Box Box 3
Folder General Reports and Memoranda from December 1946
Repository University of Virginia Law Library
6 December 1946 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL Mr. Joseph B. Keenan 520 Woodward Building Washington 5, D. C. Dear Mr. Keenan: In a talk yesterday with Mr. Mahoney, it was agreed that I write you this letter. Mr. Mahoney will make a notation at the bottom of the letter or a copy will be given him as a basis for a direct communication with you. I apologize in advance for what may be a rather long letter. I think it of the utmost important that the sending of additional legal personnel be expedited for the reasons that will appear from a discussion of the following matters: 1) Suspected War Criminals now in Custody at Sugamo Prison. Considerable pressure is being exerted by counsel for the suspected war criminals in Lt. Waldorf’s office and in my office for the immediate discharge of those who will not be prosecuted. This is a very important matter. A few days ago Miss Kerrigan handed me the file relating to Shoriki Matsutaro, with the statement that you had requested that I review it and make a recommendation to you as to its disposition. After a study of the entire file I have concluded that this man should be released without prejudice. We are considering the formation of a panel of lawyers from our Section to review these cases in the course of which they will direct further investigation where the facts seem to justify it. From time to time decisions as to the release of individuals can be announced. However, in view of the extremely limited legal and investigative personnel and the important assignments that they are all executing, reasonable progress in the solution of this problem can not be expected. We think it would be a mistake to divert the attention of the legal staff and the investigative office to this problem in view of the other duties which must be performed. It seems to us that the only answer to the problem is to assign to this work several of the new attorneys expected to arrive from the United States, who will work under the direction of one experienced attorney of the present staff. The successful operation of such a plan would, of course, depend upon the immediate arrival of additional legal help from the United States.