朝日新聞２４時間発行停止の指令　1945.9.18

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS SUPREME

UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES PACIFIC

Public Relations Office

1630　 　18 September 1945

PRESS RELEASE

ASAHI SHINBUN, TOKYO Daily newspaper, was suspended today for a period　of 48 hours by order of the Supreme Commander. Suspencion becomes effective at 4 p.m. today and remains in force until 4 p.m. September 20.

Material printed by ASAHI SHINBUN in the issues of 15, 16 and 17　September, the three days following delivery to them of General MacArthur’s　censorship order was found to be in violation of the directive prohibiting　publication of matter designed to disturb public tranquility, destructively　criticising the Allied Powers, or containing false statements.

On September 15 the newspaper published an article which said in part:

“The United States stands for the slogan ‘ Justice is power.’　Accordingly they cannot deny that the use of the Atomic bomb and attacks on　hospital ships are violations of international law more than the use of poison　gas and they do constitute war crime. Let Americans inspect conditions in the war-suffering areas as much as possible and let them awaken to the sense of　compensation for their acts and their responsibility for reconstruction. We　should tell them plainly that it is impossible for Japan to attain　reconstruction by her own power alone and endeavor to let them recognize the　fact that the return of Japan to democracy and her participation in inter-national trade would never go against the interests of the United States and the welfere of the world. We should also endeavor to have them give us positive co-operation for the restoration of Japan.”

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