IF HIROHITO WAS TRIED

Chronicle (Levin), 7 November 1947, Page 5

IF HIROHITO WAS TRIED

(N.Z.P.A.-

— Reuter,

Could Have Stopped War, Says General

, Go&yrtaht)

' Received Thursday, 7 p.m. BOLTON, Nov. 5. ' ' If Hirohito were put on trial as a war eriminal, he would confess he was Xo. 1 figure fesponsible for 'the Paeifie war," said Major-General Riukiclii Tanaka, formerly chief of the. Military Hervipe Bureau of the Japanese General Staff, in an interview with the Christian Beience Monitor'., Tokio correspondent, Mr. Gordon Walker. Tanaka added: "I say this, not because the Emperor aetually plotted to bring about the war. The crjme was one of omission rather than commission. Just as he suceessfully ofdered the entire nation to lay down arms in August, 1945, he could have done the same in 1941 when it was obvious the militarists were driving the nation into a disastrous war." Tanaka said he wrote in the Officers' Gorps magazine in September, 1940, that Japan would never win a wai against the United States and on Deeembe.r 7, 1941, he tohi General Tojo so to his faee. Tojo beeame ve.ry angry. 'J'anaka said he also warned Tojo about Japan 's weak air defences and was proved correct by General Doolittle's raid. Tojo was still more ivate and ordered the execution of the Ameriean airmen. {'T decided then to get out of the army. it was being run by madmen," he added. Tanaka elaimed that he plotted for a peaee settlement and was plaeed in an insane asylum by Tojo's men but escaped after two months. Tanaka is regarded as one of the star oi[t xtt uoTtnooso.nl oqt .104 sossou p.u war crimes trial. ' '