Thread by @Cleaner75199037

#TokyoTribunal
An American defense lawyer had Colonel Bratton of the War Department's Intelligence Division testify, revealing that the U.S. side, including the president, had actually known in advance of the attack on Pearl Harbor,

https://twitter.com/111g0/status/1665536584815640576?s=20

a despicable US deception.

Shozo Murata wrote in his diary about the courtroom at that time, "The prosecutors did not utter a word, and the presiding judge again kept silent.

According to court records at this time, Colonel Bratton intercepted an order to destroy code books and documents addressed to the Japanese Embassy on December 3, which saw the documents being burned at the Japanese Embassy.

https://twitter.com/111g0/status/1665593275288547328?s=20

The colonel reported this to General Miles, Director of Intelligence, and General Gerow, Director of Operations Planning, who agreed that it probably meant the start of war.

Admiral Ingersoll, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, stated

that the destruction of the codebooks at the Japanese Embassy meant war, since a breakdown of diplomatic relations would not destroy codebooks, and that he thought everyone in the Navy Department (as of December 3 or 4) anticipated a state of war in the near future.

The main story here is that in 1947, the judge and prosecutor were astonished and exclaimed in astonishment when the American defense counsel (Major Blakney) revealed that the U.S. side was aware of the Japanese attack, down to the date and time,

https://twitter.com/111g0/status/1665661898149462021?s=20

behind the "cowardly Japanese deception," which only those involved had known about. In addition to Army Colonel Bratton, who called him to court, the U.S. defense attorney gathered testimony from several other officials, including Navy Lieutenant Colonel Schultz,

former Under Secretary of State Sumner Wells, Army Major General Miles, Navy General Ingersoll, and Navy Colonel Kramer, and it was a tremendously persistent effort.

Shigemitsu wrote in his diary on that day that the Japanese must learn a great deal from the great power of the Americans, and this difference between Japan and the U.S. is reflected in their political power.

The American people's fidelity to the truth, and their willingness to disregard the relationship between friend and foe in the pursuit of justice, is the strength of the American democratic ideals, and is something that the Japanese must learn from.

This mentality of the American people is even greater than their great material power. A well-known Japanese lawyer was reported in the newspapers as saying that he would not be Tojo's lawyer, but in view of the attitude of Americans to express their beliefs

without following anyone else, one cannot help but recognize a great difference.

Ben Bruce Blakeney, July 30, 1908 - March 4, 1963:
Rest in Peace.🙏

Born in Oklahoma, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma and Harvard Law School and worked in various courts, including as legal counsel for the Maguire Oil Company in Oklahoma.

Joined the Army in 1942 and was well versed in Japanese affairs, serving as chief of the Japan Section and the Wartime POW Interrogation Team.

Opened a law firm in Tokyo, but while piloting a Cessna, he crashed into the mountainside of Mt. Amagi on the Izu Peninsula and died.🙏