740.00119 PW/8–2545
The Australian Minister (Eggleston) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: Further to my letter of the 14th August, 1945, enclosing certain comments of the Australian Government on the Draft Act of Surrender of Japan, the Australian Minister for External Affairs has asked me to add that the Australian Government is most anxious that no opportunity should be missed to secure immediately from the Japanese, not only complete lists of Australian and other Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees, but also full records and evidence of their treatment during custody. It is felt that any evidence of atrocities or suspected violations of International Conventions concerning prisoners of war or internees, as well as breaches of rules of warfare against service personnel generally, should be made available to National Offices of the United Nations [Page 694] War Crimes Commission. The Australian Government has been advised that major responsibility for detection and apprehension of suspected war criminals must fall upon Allied Military and Control Authorities. Australia feels that every effort should be made in the initial post-surrender period to apprehend and intern all suspected war criminals on the basis of information secured. It seems likely that important evidence can be obtained as the result of access to Japanese official records indicating the Japanese attitude towards protests made by Allied Governments during the war concerning Japanese treatment of prisoners of war or concerning other wartime atrocities. The Australian Government made several such protests.
Dr. Evatt suggests that these views be brought to the notice of the appropriate representative of the Supreme Commander and of the Judge Advocate General at General Headquarters. General Sir Thomas Blarney, the chief Australian representative at the surrender ceremonies, has been advised of the above-mentioned views to ensure that these objectives are followed so far as Australian Forces are concerned.
At the request of Dr. Evatt, I also enclose herewith the full text of a press statement issued by him on August 24th, 1945.42
Yours sincerely,