"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."
React to this quote
More by Iwane Matsui
See allResonant Thoughts
"What was the conduct of the minister in the year 1782, when his pretended sincerity for a parliamentary reform had been defeated in that House, by a motion for the order of the day? He had abandoned i…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"Out upon the folly which, in estimating human misery, allows aught to bear comparison with the agony of the…"
— Letitia Elizabeth Landon"In Hitler's Germany, Jews were forced to wear identifying stars of David on their sleeves. Black people in …"
— Zoia Horn"I just long for the day I wake up and find that the Saudi royal family are swinging from lampposts and that…"
— Ken Livingstone"The claims of existing social arrangements and of self interest have been duly allowed for. We cannot at th…"
— John Rawls"It is an honour to be invited to address this conference today. For some time the Australian Defence Organi…"
— David Morrison"Of all the philosophers of the seventeenth century, perhaps none have more relevance today than Spinoza."
— Baruch Spinoza