Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 August 1945 — Page 12

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PAGE 12

FIRST HARA-KIRI

OTHERS LIKELY

War Minister Kills Self as!

Cabinet Resigns. By NORMAN MONTELLIER

United Press Staff Correspondent SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 15—The Japanese cabinet resigned today | and one member already has com- | mitted hara-kiri in the first of what may- become a wave of sul- | cides among" Japan's beaten war

lords, The official Japanese Domei news agency said War Minister Gen. Kbrechika Anami, 58, took his life at his official residence to “atone | for his failure in accomplishing his |

duties as his majesty’s minister.

Domei said Premier Kantaro| Suzuki tendered the resignation | of his cabinet at 3:20 p. m. Tokyo time (1:20 a. m. Indianapolis time) because of “the new situation create” by Japanese acceptance of the! Potsdam declaration.” Japan's surrender required a new | cabinet of men “with fresh ideas,” Tokyo said ** Suzuki presented the resignations personally to the emperor, Tokyo said. Hirohito , accepted the res{gnations, but asked Suzuki to remain in office pending appointment of a new premier. Suzuki Next? Disclosure of Anami’s suicide touched off speculation that other | members of the Suzuki and past) chbinets similarly would “atone for their failure” to win the war. Next to carry out Japan's tra- | ditional “face saving” gesture of | death by disembowlment might well | be Suzuki himself or Navy Minis-| ter Adm. Mitsumasa® Yonai, a former premier, whose ships and planes failed to halt the American march across the Philippines and Okinawa. Suzuki became premier April 7, 1945. Another former premier, Gen. Hideki Tojo, one of the chief instigators of the Pearl Harbor attacks also may choose suicide. Tojo is expected to be named by the allies among Japan's leading wal criminals. Domei gave no details of Anami’s suicide, but there seemed little dobut that he followed the ancient custom of plunging a dagger into the left side of his stomach, drawing it to the right and turning it upward. Tradition calls for an official second simultaneously to behead the] victim with a sword.

KING SPEAKER IN PARLIAMENT

Laborites Plan to Natoia ize Mining Industry.

BY EDWARD V. ROBERTS United Press Staff Correspondent LONDON, Aug. 15.—King George VI, speaking at the state opening of parliament, said today that the new labor government would introduce in parliament bills nationalizing the Bank of England and the coal mining industry. The king's speech’ gave formal announcement that the Labor party planned to follow through with the program it campaigned on before the election. | Wearing an admiral’s uniform as! he spoke before the members of parliament, King George also promised that the government would do its utmost to “promote in conjunction with the leaders of Indian opinion an early realization of full self government in India.” Program for Control He announced an extensive pro- | gram for control and a speed-up program for providing more housing and food.

Speaking for 16 minutes after he | K

and Queen Elizabeth had led a colorful procession through drizzling Tain from Buckingham Pals ace to the houses of parliament, | the king said that the atomie| bomb should serve as a warning to nations that they “must abolish recourse to war or perish by mutual destruction.” At the house of lords the king asked Britain's people to give humble and solemn thanks to God | whose grace had brought them to final victory. After hearing the king's speech in the house of lords members. of commons returned to their own chamber and adjourned until 4 p. m. That meant that speeches by Prime Minister Clement Attlee and former Prime Minister Win. ston Churchill would be made late today. The king said his government has the firm purpose of working in concert with the dominions and with the peace loving nations of the world of freedom, peace and social Justice so that the sacrifices of war shall not have been in vain.” .The observance of V-J day began against a backdrop of centuries— old pomp, Tens of thousands of British sub-

jects and American troops swarmed into downtown London this morning for the full dress celebration,

LANGER RETURNING FROM A-BOMB WORK

Times special BLOOMINGTON, Ind, Aug 15. ~Dr. Lawrence M. Langer, Indiana university physicist on leave ‘of absence since .1041, is returning to the U. 8 from his atomic-bomb research’ in the "Marianas, it was announced today by Predigent Herman .B. Wells.

_ In a telegram. to President Wells,

Prof. Langer stated that his part

inthe atomic bombing of Japan “concerned with research

and

nts on the bomb prope i er

All America gives thanks today that

the war has come to an end. May God

bless our boys who valiantly fought to win

the war. And may this peace—won at such a

price—endure forever—and forever be a shin-

ing beacon of good will to all mankind.

a I i rR

gre tal

Jas

CRI RRITnTe BL RRARANT TAR