INTERVIEW WITH A "WAR CRIMINAL": HIDEKI TOJO

Tojo on trial in Tokyo

This extract from the interrogation of Japan's wartime leader Hideki Tojo took place on the 25th of March, 1946, and concerns the treatment of prisoners of war and the pilots captured during the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in October 1942.

Q: When did you first learn of the complaints concerning or facts indicating that there had been mistreatment of American and British prisoners of war?

A: The only complaints that ever came to my notice were in connexion with food and so forth. Atrocities were not brought to my notice at all. I am astounded at the truth regarding atrocities that is now being revealed in the newspapers. If the Japanese had followed the Emperor's instructions these atrocities would never have happened.

Q: Was there any other personal investigation made of complaints made by The United States and Great Britain after 7 December 1941 with respect to the mistreatment by the Japanese government of their captured American and British prisoners other than the one that you have just mentioned?

A: I myself heard rumours of mistreatment of prisoners of war at Bataan and when I was in the Philippines, I inquired of the Chief of Staff who informed me that the 'march' was due to the lack of transportation and there were no cases of atrocities.

Q: Just what did you say to the Chief of Staff in connection with this 'Bataan March' and the mistreatment of American prisoners?

A: I mentioned that there were rumours of this description and wanted to have his explanation.

Q: What explanation did the Chief of Staff give?

A: The Chief of Staff explained that due to lack of transport facilities, the prisoners of war had to march long distances in the heat and that there was some suffering, and deaths resulted.

Q: Were you not responsible for the rules, the orders and the action taken which led to the sentences of execution or imprisonment of American flyers since 7 December 1941?

A: Of course I am responsible for army orders and regulations.

Q: You mean for such orders and regulations?

A: Well, I am not just sure what ones you refer to. I don't remember any regulations particularly directed against flyers before 18th October 1942 when Japan was raided by American flyers. There may have been some before that, but I don't remember clearly. I do remember that there were some after that.

Q: For what actions taken at that time or afterwards in this connection were you responsible?

Japanese homes blasted by the raid

A: The raid on 18 October 1942 was contrary to international law. It was not against troops but against non-combatants, primary school students, and so forth. We knew this and, since this was not permitted by international law, it was homicide (satsu-jin). Japan acted on this concept and I ordered (kaketa) courts marshal (gunritsu kaigi), or at least they were just about like courts martial. You probably won't be able to understand this unless you understand something about Japanese feelings at this time. This was the first time Japan had been bombed, and it was a great shock. Public feelings ran very high. Now, of course, since the indiscriminate bombing of medium and small cities which were undefended and the use of the atom bomb, all things which are not permitted under international law, the tragic spectacle of this country today makes this first raid look like a very small thing, but it was a great shock to the people at the time.

Q: And the extreme punishments meted out to these first flyers were mainly given as a deterrent to prevent future raids, were they not?

A: Yes, they were for that reason. There was a demand from Imperial Headquarters. The Army Chief of Staff came to me directly and demanded severe punishment for the flyers.

Q: Who was the army chief of staff?

A: Sigiyama [Note: error, should be Sugiyama]

Chief of Staff Hajime Sugiyama (committed suicide)

Q: What did you say in reply, and what did you do as a result of this request?

A: I issued this order. It was an order for military administration. As to the form, I am not positive whether the order was issued over my name or by Imperial Headquarters, but no matter who issued it, I am responsible for it.

Q: Who else from Imperial Headquarters was the Chief of Staff speaking for when he made the request that he did of you for this punishment?

A: He came of his own responsibility, not representing anyone else. I remember this because the Chief of Staff didn't often come to me directly about things.

Q: Did you receive any order from the Emperor in this connection, or discussed the matter with him or report to him before taking the action that you did?

A: The Emperor is not related at all to this problem. When the report of the court martial came from China to the Chief of Staff and to myself, the verdict, as I recall it, was that all eight men were to be executed. The Chief of Staff came to me and demanded that the findings of the court be carried out. I knew, however, of the Emperor's benevolence and, with that in mind, and because of his feelings, wished to have only the minimum number of men executed. Therefore, it was decided that only the three who had killed primary school students would receive the death penalty. This was discussed with the Emperor, since the Emperor in Japan is the only one who can commute a sentence, and it was decided that way. That one point was the Emperor's only relation to the thing.

Q: So the emperor reviewed all eight cases and commuted the death penalties from eight to three?

A: No, he didn't review them. In Japan, courts martial have only one hearing. That is because of their military character. Ordinary trials have three hearings.

Q: On what basis did the emperor take this action? Did you propose it?

A: Yes, I did. It was on my responsibility as advisor to the Throne, but the commutation was the Emperor's because of the fact that the Emperor is invariably benevolent.

Source

Note: Tojo was executed almost three years later.

Also published at Empires & Revolution