740.00116 PW/11–3045
The Acting Political Adviser in Japan
(Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
No. 79
Tokyo, November 30,
1945.
[Received December 11.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to this
Mission’s despatch no. 52, November 13, 1945, and no. 57,
November 16, 1945, enclosing copies of memoranda addressed to
General MacArthur recommending the arrest of thirteen and
twenty-two major war criminal suspects, respectively,12 and to our telegram no. 164,
November 27, 1945,13 reporting the transmission to General
MacArthur of two further lists of major war criminal suspects,
with supporting biographic data, the first for arrest at this
time, and the second, at a suitable time in the future.
There is now enclosed a copy of our memorandum of November 27,
1945, to General MacArthur, together with the above-mentioned
third and fourth lists. As stated in the reference telegram, our
first three lists include all those suspects named in the United
States War Crimes Office lists, prepared with the Department’s
assistance, not already arrested, in Allied hands or reported
dead, against whom evidence fully warranting recommendation of
arrest is available in this Mission. It has just been learned,
however, that Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu, reported dead in the War
Crimes Office list, is alive, though ill, and Abe Nobuyuki, whom
we had been informed had been arrested, is at large. Inasmuch as
there is not available in this Mission evidence which would
warrant recommending their arrest, it is requested that their
names be added to the others in this category cited in the
reference telegram and that biographic data concerning them be
furnished us.
According to the best available information, Kimura Heitaro,
Itagaki Seishiro, and Terauchi Hisaichi are in British hands in
Burma or Malaya; Otozo Yamada [Yanmda
Otozo] is in Russian hands in
[Page 977]
Manchuria; and Tatekawa Yoshitsuga, Anami
Korechika, Suetsugu Nobumasa and Sugiyama Gen are dead. Doihara
Kenji was arrested in Japan on September 23, and Muto Akira is
being held in the Philippines. Togo Shigenori is under house
arrest in Tokyo.
It is our intention to submit further lists of major war criminal
suspects to General MacArthur as sufficient evidence is
compiled.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the Acting Political Adviser
in Japan (Atcheson)
Tokyo, November 27,
1945.
Memorandum for: The Supreme
Commander.
Reference our memoranda of November 12 and November 14, 1945,
enclosing lists of major Japanese war criminal suspects,
who, in our opinion, should be arrested at this time and
held for trial.
We are now enclosing two further lists as follows:
- (1)
- A list containing two further names of major war
criminal suspects (Fujiwara and Nakajima), together
with biographic data concerning each which we
consider sufficient evidence to support their arrest
at this time and trial for crimes against peace as
defined in ‘Section II, Article 6 (a) of the Four
Power Agreement on War Crimes Trials; and
- (2)
- A sheet containing one name (Yonai) who we feel
should be listed but who should
not, in our opinion, be arrested at this time
because he is a member of the present Cabinet and
his arrest might cause the Cabinet to fall. As
regards Yonai’s guilt and responsibility, we believe
that from the history of his official life he is
clearly subject to trial for crimes against peace as
defined, and that, as he was Navy Minister in 1937
when China was attacked and Japanese Navy planes
bombed Nanking and other Chinese cities, he is
chargeable with violation of the laws and customs of
war, specifically under Article 1 of the Hague
Convention.14 We
believe that he should be arrested at a suitable
time in the future.
The names on these and previous lists submitted by this
Mission include all those major war criminal suspects
believed to be in Japan, whose names appear in the lists
furnished by the National War Crimes Office in Washington or
who are otherwise under consideration, against whom we now
have available evidence for recommendation that they be
arrested. Further names will be submitted as necessary
evidence is compiled.
[Page 978]
[Subenclosure]
Major Japanese War Criminals
(Third List)
Fujiwara Ginjiro. Leading
industrialist with a record of active collaboration with the
military in positions of major responsibility. Former posts
include: Commerce and Industry Minister in Yonai Cabinet,
1940; member of Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
Establishment Administration, 1942; Adviser to Naval
authorities in Occupied Areas of South Pacific, 1942;
Adviser to Cabinet Advisory Council Wartime Economic
Council, 1943; Minister without Portfolio in Tojo Cabinet,
1943; Munitions Minister in Koiso Cabinet, 1944; Councillor
Imperial Rule Assistance Political Society, 1945; and
Adviser to Manchukuo War Industries Administration, 1945;
Founder and Chairman of Oji Paper Company (Mitsui
enterprise). Member House of Peers. On list of major
Japanese war criminal suspects prepared by United States War
Crimes Office in Washington.
Nakajima Chikuhei. Leading
aircraft manufacturer (founder and president Nakajima
Aircraft Company), war profiteer and politician. Described
as “closely bound up with and devoted to the developing of
Japan’s war machine since before the last war.” Former posts
include: President, Seiyukai Party,
1930–1940; Railways Minister, 1937–1939; Member Cabinet
Advisory Council, 1940; Member Greater East Asia
Co-Prosperity Sphere Establishment Administration, 1942;
Councillor of Imperial Rule Assistance Political Society,
1942–1945; Adviser Imperial Rule Assistance Association,
1944; Adviser Japan Political Association, 1945; Munitions
Minister in Higashi-Kuni Cabinet, 1945. Informally excluded
from membership in the present Progressive Party of Japan
because of military taint. On list of major Japanese war
criminal suspects prepared by United States War Crimes
Office in Washington.
(Fourth List)
Yonai Mitsumasa. Top Navy policy
maker since 1937. Former posts include: Navy Minister in
Hayashi Cabinet, 1937; Navy Minister in first Konoye
Cabinet, 1937–1939; Navy Minister in Hiranuma Cabinet, 1939;
Member Supreme War Council, 1939; Premier, 1940; Deputy
Premier and Navy Minister in Koiso Cabinet, 1944–1945; and
Navy Minister in Suzuki Cabinet, 1945. Serving as Navy
Minister in the present Cabinet.
