Petition # 298: Emperor Showa was prevented to apologize

Petition # 298: Emperor Showa was prevented to apologize

Petition: 298: Emperor Showa was prevented to apologize

His Excellency Shinzo ABE
Prime Minister of Japan

The Hague, 10 September 2019
Petition: 298
Subject:  Emperor Showa was prevented to apologize.

Excellency, 
Documents published by NHK record, according to Mr. Michiji Tajima, first grand steward of the Imperial Household Agency during the reign of Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, that Emperor Showa was prevented to apologize on the World War II in 1952. Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida opposed the Emperor’s plan to publicly express regret and remorse, as “it could prompt people to say he was responsible for starting the war or Japan’s defeat.” Emperor Showa could not express his “deep shame” and responsibility that he could not stop the military under Prime Minister Hideki Tojo.

Prime Minister,
As you know the same Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida signed the San Francisco Peace treaty on 8 September 1951, recognizing that “Japan should pay reparations for damage and suffering caused during the war”.However at that time it was recognized that Japan did not have sufficient resources to make complete reparations. Everyone wanted peace and felt that Japan should be given the opportunity to restore itself. The political pressure on the Dutch government was immense to accept that Japan would not reimburse individual victims. It forced the Dutch Minister of foreign affairs Mr. Stikker to sign the Yoshida-Stikker agreement preventing the Dutch from the Netherlands East Indies to claim individual reparation. The basic constitutional rights of the individual Dutch were waived in favour of global peace. Since then Japan has the resources to make good the individual reparations. In good faith  the Japanese government must consider an ex gratia arrangement involving the surviving Dutch victims. 

Prime Minister,
It was Emperor Showa’s wish to reflect and not repeat all the bad things done by the Japanese War Government and its Imperial Military. In the spirits of Emperor Showa you must consider Japan’s historic duty. The consequences of the belligerent parties of World War II are still not completed. It was the Chancellor of Germany Mrs. Merkel who called on Japan to straighten out pending matters in good faith.  Recently the German President Mr. Steinmeier asked the Polish people to pardon the German occupation of Poland during World War II. Japan must follow Germany’s example as Emperor Showa intended! The forthcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo are the moment to reconcile Japan’s military history and to follow Mrs. Merkel call.

On behalf of the Foundation of Japanese Honorary Debts.

J.F. van Wagtendonk
President.