Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The British Commonwealth, The Far East, Volume VI

740.00116 PW/8–1645: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

Washington, August 23, 1945—1 p.m.

7163. Urtels 8298, August 16, and 8279 and 8280 of August 15. For Hodgson. List of major Japanese war criminals now in preparation for State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee for inclusion as annex to the directive on war criminals to be issued to MacArthur.⁶ This list will be limited to individuals whose offenses are described in Category A, Article 6 of Charter of International Military Tribunal.⁷ List will be sent for your information as soon as available.

Byrnes

6. General MacArthur as Supreme Commander, Allied Powers, Japan.
7. For text of Charter, see annex to agreement signed at London on August 8, 1945. Article 6, (a) reads as follows: “Crimes against peace: namely, planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances, or participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing.”