740.00116 PW/11–945
Memorandum by the Acting Chairman of the
State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee (Matthews) to the Secretary of
State
SWN–3508
Washington, 9 November,
1945.
Subiect: Apprehension and Punishment of War
Criminals (Japan).
| References: |
a. SWNCC 57/6/D.75
|
|
b. SWNCC 57/7/D.76
|
By informal action on 8 November 1945, the State-War-Navy
Coordinating Committee agreed that the attached message should
be sent by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commanding General,
U.S. Army Forces in the Pacific.77
The Secretary, Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been requested to
forward this message, after approval by the Joint Chiefs of
Staff.
It is requested that the Department of State make further
representations to speed action by the other governments
interested (so that, if such action proves not to be possible
within a reasonable time, trial before U.S. Military Commission
may later be authorized).
For the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee:
[Annex]
Draft Message for General of the Army
Douglas Mac Arthur
Further to Warx 81029 and CA 54138.78
Position of U.S. Government is that Tojo, his cabinet and
other persons charged with crimes in category A in paragraph
1 of Appendix C of JCS 151279 should be tried by an
international tribunal.
Other Allied signatories to Japanese surrender document have
been requested to nominate panel of their nationals for
appointment by you
[Page 961]
as members of such international tribunal. Transmission to
Allied governments of U.S. policy contained in JCS 1512
commits the U.S. to afford such governments a reasonable
opportunity to participate in trials by international
tribunal. State Department is making further representations
to expedite action by other signatories. If the latter delay
unduly or do not desire to participate, it is probable that
the U.S. will proceed on unilateral basis along lines
suggested by you.
Subject to the above, you are already fully authorized to
proceed immediately with trial of war criminals for offenses
in categories B and C of paragraph 1 of Appendix C of JCS
1512. Such trials should be held as soon as possible.
