WAR TRIALS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 113, 25 February 1950, Page 5

WAR TRIALS

JAPANESE TO BE TRIED • , """"""""* AUSTRALIAN DECISION (N.Z.P.A f .—Copyright) CANBERRA, Feb. 24. The Australian Prime Minister (Mr Menzies) said in the House of Representatives to-day that 120 suspected Japanese war criminals would be tried. The Government had decided that the trials should he restricted to cases involving charges of murder or other revolting crimes or charges in relation to which, on conviction, the death sentence might be appropriate. “Our desires -are simply stated —to bring to trial those against whom grave and properly tryable cases are shown to exist, to have these trials disposed of with such speed as is consistent with the processes of justice and to terminate the wretched state of affairs in which justice is denied because it is delayed,” Mr Menzies said. “Where suspected war criminals are released because of the present inability to arraign them on satisfactory evidence we reserve the right of rearrest should fresh material appear.” Mr Menzies continued that the true foundation of war trials was a belief iliat certain things that were done sometimes under orders represented crimes against international law and the general decent laws of humanity. Those who provoked international con. flict or engineered wars of aggression were immeasurably more guilty than those who fought, under their command Mr Menzies said that the Far Eastern Commission’s policy was that investigations should be completed by June 30, 1949, if possible, and trials before September 3, 1949. The trials could not be held in Hong Kong in 1949, and when the present Australian Government, assumed power 44 cases involving 191 suspects were awaiting consideration. Immedi ately after the swearing-in of the new Government the Army Minister (Mr *J. Francis) mentioned the position to the Cabinet.

The Government was greatly concerned to find that many suspected war criminals had been confined in prison for more than two years without trial. The Government decided that these extraordinary delays vio lated the fundamental concepts of British justice. It was advised that General MacArthur contemplated releasing, the suspects and more than once had sought advice from the Australian Government on what it proposed to do. The new Government had decided, first, -that if the evidence against the accused had not been adequately collected nearly four and a half years after the end of hostilities tne cases must be so speculative that prolonged imprisonment without trial could not be justified, and second, that if the cases were ready to be tried they Eihould be proceeded with promptly. A Military Court was established, on Manus Island —the nearest Australian territory to Japan. A review by Mr Francis determined that there were 17 cases, against 120 suspected wav criminals,. most ot whom were in custody in Japan. Others would be apprehended and tried.