"The Tribunal is satisfied that Matsui knew what was happening. He did nothing, or nothing effective to abate these horrors. He did issue orders before the capture of the city enjoining propriety of conduct upon his troops and later he issued further orders to the same purport. These orders were of no effect as is now known, and as he must have known. It was pleaded in his behalf that at this time he was ill. His illness was not sufficient to prevent his conducting the military operations of his command nor to prevent his visiting the City for days while these atrocities were occurring. He was in command of the Army responsible for these happenings. He knew of them. He had the power, as he had the duty, to control his troops and to protect the unfortunate citizens of Nanking. He must be held criminally responsible for his failure to discharge this duty."
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Executed peoplePeople indicted for war crimesMilitary leaders of World War IIImperial JapanMilitary leaders from Japan
Original Language: English
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Tribunal decision.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Iwane_Matsui
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Iwane Matsui
Iwane Matsui (July 27, 1878 – December 23, 1948) was a general of the Japanese Imperial Army and the commander of the expeditionary forces sent to China in World War II. He was sentenced to death by hanging by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East for being responsible for the Nanjing Massacre.
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