Press - Response to Trial

Minutes of Thirteenth Meeting of Evidence and Defendants Committee

Description: 
Topics discussed include: Leaking of prosecution affidavits to Japanese newspapers prior to introduction into evidence; errors in Exhibits 26 and 27.
Date: 
1946CE Jul 5th

Japan War Crimes Trial Drama Seen as Second Rate Show News Article

Contributors: 
Description: 
Reports on the statements of Commander Bentley M. McMullin (an investigator and case lawyer on the prosecution staff) who stated that the "Allied prosecution of Japan's accused war makers had 'fallen victim to maladministration, neglect and inefficiency which in view of the issues at stake is tragic.'" The article then explores the problems with the tribunal and the way the Japanese citizens responded to the proceedings.

Japs' Defender Argues A-Bomb Was Murder, Too News Article

Description: 
Reports on the statements of defense attorney Major Bruce Blakeney who asserted that "America's atom bombing of Hiroshima was no less murderous than Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor." Chief Prosecutor Joseph B. Keenan offered a quick rebuttal stating "we make no apologies for the use of the atomic bomb against Japan." He further argued, regarding the validity of the Tribunal, that "the lack of precedent . . . should not be used as an escape hatch for the guilty." The article also discusses the motion submitted by W. G. Furness to have four of the accused military generals tried by court martial rather than an international tribunal.

Japan Trained Troops for War With Russians News Article

Description: 
Reports on the testimony of Ryukichi Tanaka regarding the training of "an estimated 2,500,000 men in Manchuria for war against Soviet Russia." "It was in line with this belief that a conflict with Russia was unavoidable that the Japanese set up a series of pro-Japanese governments in North China and inner Mongolia after their conquest of Manchuria," Tanaka testified. He also gave evidence regarding "the series of plots by a coalition of Japanese civilian ultra-nationalist groups and extreme militarists which brought about the Manchurian incident beginning Sept. 18, 1931."

Tanaka Reveals He Tried to Oust Tojo During War News Article

Description: 
Reports on the testimony given by Ryukichi Tanaka, ex-Major General and Chief of the Military Service Bureau of the War Ministry, regarding his conflicting opinions with Prime Minister Hideki Tojo. Tanaka also states that he had asked Shigenori Togo to lead a political movement to oust Tojo. This article covers the third day of Tanaka's testimony on the witness stand. He went into detail on the reasons that led to his resignation, including his belief in "Japan's inadequate war preparedness, friction between the Army and Navy and fear of subordinate officers to report to their superiors of the actual preparation conditions." The article discusses the mental and physical state of Tanaka stating that "previous speculation that the defense in its cross-examination would attempt to prove that the prosecution's star witness was mentally unbalanced failed to materialize yesterday morning."

Physicians Doubtful Hospitalized Okawa Will be Able to Attend War Trials Again News Article

Description: 
Gives a status update on Dr. Shumei Okawa and quotes Dr. Nishimura as saying that he believed Okawa might recover a little but that "I doubt whether he could recover completely to be able to attend the International Tribunal again."
Date: 
1946CE Jul 1st

Three Defendants Named as Plotters for Manchu Grab News Article

Description: 
Reports on the testimony given by Major-General Ryukichi Tanaka where he asserted that Col. Kuwamoto was "directly responsible for the assassination of Marshal Chang Tso-lin." He also accused Kingoro Hashimoto, Seishiro Itagaki, and Okawa Shumei (along with three others) as "having been elements backing the occupation of Manchuria." Tanaka was questioned by Edwin B. Sackett. Further testimony given by Tanaka discusses the military actions and occupation of Manchuria. Other evidence entered during the day's proceedings included Kingoro Hashimoto's book "The Road to World Reconstruction."

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