Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally

Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally

102 Department of External Affairs to Mansfield

Cablegram 59 CANBERRA, 21 February 1946

SECRET

Your 52. [1] We think suggestion is quaint and quite unjustified as Hirohito is part of the Japanese Government and this puts him on the wrong side of the record and further supports the myth that he, or any member of the Japanese Government, cannot be charged with war crimes. The terms of surrender meant only acquiescence by Japan that in accordance with the will of the conqueror war criminals would be subject to stern punishment. [2]

1 Document 93.

2 Cablegram 132 of 26 March from Tokyo noted that the indicting powers were the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, France, the Soviet Union, China, India and the Philippines, and that Japan was not joined in the indictment.

[AA:A1067, UN46/WC/1]

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

  • R.G. Casey Building
    John McEwen Crescent
    Barton ACT 0221 Australia
  • Phone: +61 2 6261 1111
  • Fax: +61 2 6261 3111
  • ABN: 47 065 634 525

Australian offices:

International offices:

Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates, Multilateral Missions and Representative Offices.

Portfolio agencies

Travel

Trade

Issues

Organisations

Foundations, Councils and Institutes

About us

Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries

Stay up to date