A summary of the facts and findings of Sir William Webb's report
[1] on the investigation of Japanese atrocities and war crimes in
the South West Pacific, together with a statement by Dr. Evatt, is
being released in London and Canberra today. Following is full
text of Dr. Evatt's statement.

Begins.

The report rendered by Sir William Webb, Chief Justice of
Queensland, represented the findings of a most elaborate
investigation conducted on behalf of the Australian Government. It
is based on the testimony of over 500 Witnesses, both civilian and
military, and also on documentary evidence. All the witnesses were
most closely questioned and evidence was taken in substantial
accordance with the canons of justice and corroboration of all
atrocities was always sought and obtained. While this report
related only to part of the whole field of Japanese terrorism and
criminality, its contents are such as to shock and dismay the
feelings of every decent human being. It reveals not only
individual and isolated acts of barbarity, but also practices
which are beyond the pale of accepted human conduct which could
not have become general without the connivance, encouragement, and
direction of superior officers up to the highest. If those
responsible for these outrages are allowed to escape punishment,
it will be the grossest defeat of justice and a travesty of
principle for which the war has been fought. In its demand that
all Japanese war criminals be brought to trial, the Australian
Government is actuated by no spirit of revenge but by profound
feelings of justice and of responsibility to ensure that the next
generation of Australians is spared the frightful experiences of
the kind which Sir William Webb's report reveals. [We] emphasise
most of all that the war crimes committed by Japanese forces in
the field, while utterly wicked on the part of the actual
perpetrators, are also part of a system of terrorism in which all
Japanese troops and commanders participated. It is our duty to see
that those who organised the system are punished and that the
system itself is completely eradicated. Those at the top are, in
our view, at least equally guilty with the actual perpetrators on
the spot. Last week the United States Government released for
publication reports of atrocities committed by the Japanese
against American Nationals. These reports strengthened the
confirmed policy of the Australian Government based on its own
judicial findings that there should be no immunity from trial for
war crimes for any Japanese whatsoever. Furthermore, it is the
view of the Australian Government that the general charge of
planning and waging aggressive warfare which will shortly be
preferred against the major German war criminals applies equally
to those in Japan who are ultimately responsible for the acts
detailed in Sir William Webb's report.

In common with the other United Nations Governments represented on
the War Crimes Commission, the Australian Government has recently
received from the Commission a series of recommendations for the
apprehension and trial of suspected Japanese which, if they are
carried out, will ensure the punishment of all culpable persons in
the Japanese administration and armed forces.

The Australian Government is indicating to the War Crimes
Commission not only its entire endorsement of the procedures
recommended, but also, its firm view that the procedure should be
put into operation without delay. These recommendations which, if
properly applied, will ensure that no Japanese who deserves
punishment shall escape owe much to the work of Lord Wright who is
the Representative of Australia on the War Crimes Commission as
well as Chairman of the Commission. Meanwhile, the Australian
Government is taking suitable action to ascertain the facts in
relation to all territories in which the enemy has been in contact
with the Australians since 1941. With the cooperation of the
military authorities testimony will be taken from Australian
prisoners of war. For this purpose the Australian Government has
nominated two additional judges to assist Sir William Webb whose
report now summarised has been acclaimed by the War Crimes
Commission as a model for the presentation of these matters.