TRIAL OF JAP WAR HEADS

Chronicle (Levin), 7 May 1946, Page 5

TRIAL OF JAP WAR HEADS

Reeeived Monday. S.-10 p.m. TOKIO, May 0. I Whau the War ( 'Hines' Tribtinal niet ITojo's counsel, Ichiro Kiyose clutlleng ! ed the right of Sir William Webb ( Aus jtraliai to sit as a member of Ihe ! Tribunal, claiming that Webb sliould be i disqualified because he once investigated Japanese atrocities for the AusI tralian Government. The cliief prose j cutor, Mr. Josepli Keenan, "Vonimeiited 1 that perhaps it wouid be wise to recon 1 st itute the Court which adjourned to j consider Kiyose 's subinission. After an i adjournment, AI r. .Tustice Xorlhcrof't i (Xew Zealand) announced that "inemI bers are of Ihe opinion 110 ob.jection ea 11 be sustained against an.v member i of the Tribunal." Sir W111. Webb did ! not participale in the deliberalions. All the Japanese pleaded not guilty to the indictments. Tojo stood fip slifTl \ and said clearly 011 all couuts: "1 plead not guilty. ' ' Kiyose said he had intended objecting to each of the .Tustices. Imt the ruling regardiitg Sir Wnr. Webb ]>i'e vented him from pursuing the point. Sir W111. Webb tlien announced tliat die trial would begin 011 .Tune 3. Ile overru.led a defence objection that the interval . was too short. Tio said the defence xvould not be prosented for a month after the prosecution had completed its case. Tlowever, the Tribunal l was reconvening on May 13 to peniiit the defence to renevv the challenge that tlie Court laclted jurisdiction in the pending cases.