WAR CRIMES TRIALS (TOJO DEFENSE), TOKYO, JAPAN Part 1

Description

Signal Corps ADC 6903 111 SOURCE: AFCF (A-2147) Card 1 of 2 ADC FILM : Arch & APC MP, 972' ea, Composite (Std) 6903-1 WAR CRIMES TRIALS, (TOJO DEFENSE) Tokyo, Japan - 31 Dec 1947 Sequence: Mr Keenan in cross-examining Tojo says he will not call him Gen because there no longer exists a Japanese Army. Mr Keenan also asks if his affidavit was intended for the purpose of proving his innocence or was it a continuation of military propaganda to the people of Japan. At this point Tojo's attorney is at lectern making an objection. Judge Webb sustains the objection. Prosecutor asks if Japan attacked the U S because they interfered with the Far Eastern co-prosperity sphere. Tojo answers that that was not the direct reason but it was one of the remote reasons. MS, Mr Keenan addressing the court in protest that he (Tojo) is being charged with a crime. His state of mind is important and it is neces- sary that it be known whether he was conscious of the fact that he was committing a crime. Record Group 111 Accession III-NAV-210 ARMY PICTORIAL CENTER, 35-11 35th Ave, LIC 1, NY FB/amf Signal Corps ADC 6903 111 SOURCE: AFCF (A-2147) Card 2 of 2 ADC FILM : Arch & APC MP, 972' ea, Composite (Std) 6903-2 WAR CRIMES TRIALS, (TOJO DEFENSE) (CONT'D) Tokyo, Japan - 31 Dec 1947 (Cont'd) The voice of Justice Webb is heard saying that the court is only inte- rested in state of fact. The only defendant at Nuremberg who was guilty of aggressive war and aggressive war alone was not sentenced to death, he states. HMS, Mr Keenan and Mr Blewett, Tojo's lawyer, at the witness stand talking on the point of aggressive war. Webb asks: "If I am asked whether I think an act of war is a crime and say I think it is not a crime, am I guilty of anything?" Mr Blewett is heard saying to the court that he doesn't think that Mr Keenan's question is proper and the voice of the court is heard saying the objection is sustained. There is an interchange between Keenan and Tojo during the cross-examination, as to whether Tojo was surprised at being appointed to Konoye Cabinet in July 1940. The witness says: "Well, I might have been surprised but then again I was not surprised. Which causes Keenan to say; "that does not help much." Record Group 111 Accession III-NAV-210 ARMY PICTORIAL CENTER, 35-11 35th Ave, LIC 1, NY FB/amf

Collection

Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Activities