Page 85 - Unit 731 Testimony

Japanese researchers' experiments with crop destruction attracted
particular attention. A list of questions drawn up by the Chemical Corps of
the War Department for Dr. Fell to pursue included: "What were the main

crops considered for destruction?"; "What field trials were carried out?";
"What kind of equipment had been developed for applying crop destroying
materials?"; "What crop diseases do you know or can [you] recognize?";
and "Do any of these [known/recognized diseases] cause serious losses in
the vicinity of the BW installation?"

On June 3, 1947, the War Department in Washington communicated
with Alva C. Carpenter of the Legal Section of SCAP, asking for detailed
information on all possible war crimes evidence or charges against Ishii or
any of his group "for consideration in conference here concerning this
matter. Specifically what evidence of war crimes is now in possession of the
U.S. authorities against Ishii or any member of the group for whom he has

requested immunity." Vigilant against threats to its monopoly on the
treasure trove of biological warfare knowledge at hand, the War Department
also wanted to know which American allies had filed war crimes charges
against Ishii or his associates.

Carpenter replied that his section had only anonymous letters,
affidavits of hearsay, and rumors on Ishii and his associates. He informed
Washington that "the Legal Section interrogations to date of the numerous
persons concerned with the BW project in China, do not reveal sufficient
evidence to support war crime charges. The alleged victims are of unknown
identity. Unconfirmed allegations are to the effect that criminals, farmers,

women and children were used for BW experimental purposes." Legal
Section noted allegations by the Japanese Communist Party that Ishii and
his group "conducted experimentation on captured Americans in Mukden
and that simultaneously, research on similar lines was conducted in Tokyo
and Kyoto."

Also, according to Legal Section, there was not sufficient evidence on
file against any of Ishii's subordinates to charge or hold them as crime
suspects. The message did list possible superiors of Ishii who were then on
trial, including Tojo and two other former commanders of the Kwantung
Army. But neither Ishii nor his associates were listed as war criminals, and

no American ally had filed charges of war crimes against them.