Press - Response to Trial

Reports on the decisions reached by the defense counsel to submit motions for bill of particulars for all of the Japanese accused war criminals and to have each defendant have his own defense counsel at the tribunal. The decision for each defendant to have a specific counselor meant that Dr. Somei Uzawa will defend Toshio Shiratori while Iwane Matsui will have Kiyoshi Ito as his defense counsel.

Reports on the arraignment of Tojo and 26 other war criminals in front of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and that all accused entered pleas of innocent. The defense had entered motions to dismiss challenging the court's jurisdiction as well as their contention that "under the terms of the Potsdam declaration, war crimes can be charged against persons who violated international law after the outbreak of hostilities, and that the court therefore cannot try high government officials for acts committed prior to the war."

Reports on the descriptions offered by Hideki Tojo's family regarding his character. Describes their mountain retreat and their thoughts on the trial. Mrs. Tojo (his wife) is quoted as saying "if an understanding had been reached between Japan and the Allied powers, he would have led his country towards peace. I regret very much that such an honest person as my husband should be classified as a war criminal when he endeavored tirelessly for the benefit of his country."

Reports on the testimony given by Henry Pu Yi, former puppet ruler of Manchuria. While he testified that "Japan made opium addicts of Manchurians to keep down revolt and was planning an invasion of Soviet Russia," Pu Yi subsequently had trouble remembering events when he was cross-examined by defense counsel. Gives details on the questions asked and Pu Yi's responses. The article concludes by stating "Pu Yi is in Soviet custody, and is expected to be returned to Moscow after his testimony is concluded."

Article from Time magazine reporting on the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. It describes the defendants actions and the general atmosphere as well as compares the trial to Nuremberg. The following excerpt was highlighted by Phelps: "In the role created by Robert Jackson, U. S. Chief Prosecutor Joseph B. Keenan was pushing a sober trial of "crimes against peace" and "crimes against humanity." But Prosecutor Keenan (who looks like W. D. Fields) had to deal with the opera bouffe element which the West so often finds in the Japanese character." The following sentences appear immediately after describing the Japanese defendants: "The chief Jap defendant, Hideki Tojo, picked his nose unconcernedly and flirted with an American stenographer. Hiroshi Oshima, wartime ambassador to Germany, affected the dandy, with white pocket handkerchief, smart bow tie and black-ribboned pince-nez."