friends. I'm very anxious for you to meet a man whom I have been admiring
for some time since coming to Manila Mr K. A person. He is a Norwegian. He
came out into the orient a great many years ago and in 1941 was accredited
to the pre Norwegian press and he also had privileges in the radio in this
area, which I believe if I'm not mistaken, made him one of the most hated
of the allied nationals in this area because of the bitterness which we
had for the Nazis. During the days when we were fighting Germany, he was
liberated from Manila february the ninth of this year having been here
throughout the entire Japanese occupation. And now I'm going to question
him briefly and I think you're going to be fascinated by his answers. Mr
Pearson. Where were you when the Japanese struck at Pearl Harbor? I had
arrived in Manila from shanghai with my wife. Only a few hours before it
happened, we were on our way to Washington and scheduled to continue the
voids from here on one of the President liners. Well, specifically where
had you been For many years? In fact, since November 1918, I had lived in
China most of the time in Shanghai. Well, why didn't you get out of Manila
before? It was too late. Well, that was not so easy. Especially after the
war had started. Especially since I felt the risk was too great as far as
my wife was concerned. Besides, I felt I wanted to help the american
authorities, if that were at all possible. Was this your first contact
with war? No, it seems my whole life has been a succession of wars and
troubles and unrest. I spent the first world war at sea the greater part
of it in the region sailing ships, square eggers as we term them or cape
horn nose. I was in Philadelphia when the United States declared war on
Germany the first time. I have also watched the many provincial scraps in
China, the fighting and coming to power of Chiang Kai Shek in 1927 and the
Japanese war around and in Shanghai in 1932. And the war in Shanghai of
1937, which of course they also termed a mere incident. Well, was your
contact with the Japanese here in Manila. Your first experience with these
people, As you will note from what I've already said, it was by no means
my first contact with the Barbarians from Nippon. I've had them in my hair
, so to speak for 10 years before I met up with them here, I suppose then
that perhaps you had formulated some kind of an opinion of the alleged
Japanese mind and psychology. Most decidedly. I have had what you might
term some excellent opportunities, including my experience with the
Japanese military police, because I had the doubtful privilege of spending
a little time in Fort Santiago and undoubtedly you heard about that place
that couldn't have been good. No. Bear in mind also that I saw the brutes
in action in china, it has always been the same pattern. They have always
run through to form and they have always improved on their best reality.
The Japanese must be considered subhumans. In fact I think I should prefer
the java man of a million years ago. He killed of necessity the Japanese
killed to satisfy an innate lust for blood and sadism. And then there is
of course the fanatical desire to die for the emperor and become
divinities. As you know, it's not only a soldier who commits harakiri in
Japan, this suicidal trait is an honorable end to adapts frustration, but
I'm afraid the subject is somewhat too complicated to be dealt with in a
brief conversation. I think that becomes obvious. Mr Pearson. Do you think
that the Japanese had anything constructive in mind when they came into
the Philippines? There has never been any constructive attitude on the
part of the Japanese except as far as their own empire and their selfish
ambitions are concerned history bear ample witness to that. They have been
good imitators, nothing else. The only thing I believe they're really
invented was a flytrap which sold extensively in china wherever they have
set their squat feet misery and want have invariably followed their slogan
of Asiatic co prosperity was bound to become a boomerang and it has as you
very well know, Mr person did the looting. That has so desolated manila
began immediately upon their occupation Or did it come a little later The
Japs began their systematic looting when they entered. Many lie in January
1942. And they have been ever at it ever since. As long as there was
anything to loot. Of course, after they turned the americans and british
here they made a thorough job of ransacking their homes. All this
apartment stores were of course cleaned out. Most of it went to Japan and
the best of it. And as long as they had any ships to take care of it later
on due to heavy shipping losses, it became a problem for them to remove
things and they also had to live more and more under land for the same
reason. Although you weren't interned here, that is to say you weren't
actually in prison. Did you have in the city itself? Any freedom
whatsoever? To a certain extent? Yes, that is to say within Manila itself
, especially during the first two years. As long as the war went in their
favor, you see, the official attitude at least was one of toleration for
those outcasts who could not claim the privilege of being born a member of
the emperor's tribe. Their attitude is best described by themselves. Those
who were candid enough to say so. For instance, commandant McCabe credited
with being a graduate of Howard University and a doctor of divinity if you
please ushered some 500 American British and other nationals into the
concentration camp at bag you with these words? Remember you americans are
merciful. We are not after the worthy commandant had spoken a group of Jap
infant room and fired their rifles into the air to make it perfectly clear
to the prisoners. That means were at hand for enforcing japanese
protective custody as they termed the internment of all including women
and Children. The aged and sick were the Japanese. That is the Filipino
natives here apprehensive from the start of the occupation or did their
apprehension come later? Yes, we were all apprehensive. The Filipinos and
the foreigners I suppose except the Nazi and some other pro access
individuals. But the Japanese military did their best to dispel that
feeling, especially in the case of the Filipinos. Then came the death of
thousands of filipino and american prisoners of war. The death march from
Bataan. The slapping of faces by the app centrists and Jap civilians and
then came a period of attempted kindness, urging collaboration with the
benevolent Asiatic brothers from nippon. Then came the reverses and the
jap inferiority complex really began to show its true colors. Then the
last year 1944 From one February when the military took over Also the
civilian internment camps. Then the last few months before the american
entry, the building of barricades in the streets the digging of holes for
mines to forced labor. Well, did you have an opportunity to visit any of
these occupation camps. That is where the prisoners were, or were you
prohibited? It was possible during the first two years to obtain
permission to visit internees and the internees could also obtain passes
for longer or shorter periods to leave the camp, mainly in the cases of
illness. We could also send in parcels of food, clothing and money because
all of that was stopped on February the 1st 1944 when the military
authorities took over the camp. Mr Pearson was the arrival of american
forces here in Manila. Your first real personal contact with americans and
their methods. I have always been a keen student of american ways of life
and americans. Don't forget I'm a Norwegian. I have always entertained a
sincere admiration and I can truthfully say, a real affection for your
people. A considerable number of whom, as you know, hailed from our
shore's, We knew America. That is why we also knew the war would be won. I
believe you plan an immediate return to the United States, Do you not? Yes.
In fact, I'm promised a plane for tomorrow morning After 37 months, as
you may imagine under jap domination, I feel a change of surroundings is
necessary. But I'm planning to return to see the American forces enter
Tokyo. Do you plan to go to Norway during your visit in the United States.
That will depend on my conversations with the Norwegian ambassador to
Washington Since I have only visited my country once for a period of seven
weeks in 1928, I naturally want to get back and I have not heard from my
family there for more than four years. Besides, I want so much to help in
the reconstruction of a country which has suffered so much under the Nazi
yoke. And now mr Pearson, I have a question for you. That may sound a
little pointed, but I want to know what we should do with the Philippines.
In your personal opinion. That is what you might term leading question.
And I think it has already been decided you will keep your promise of
independence to the Filipinos. America has never yet broken her promises.
I do not even have to court senator tidings to state that well, should
they be given their independence completely or should we make certain
reservations? Oh, that's another leading question and one that a diplomat
might wait. But I'm not a diplomat. The reservations in my opinion would
be strong military bases in the islands. And talking of independence.
Every nation in the world should realize by bitter experience that no
country can anymore be quite independent of another politically. The word
has changed fundamentally. We are all interdependent and have to think
less of national boundaries. Custom barriers and the rest of the pre war
model if we are to preserve a lasting and just peace. What's the situation
over in china? You've spent a lot of time there. Is it hopeful
as it is more than 3.5 years since I left and as I was naturally cut off
from all communications with the outside world during the Japanese
occupation, I'm afraid I'm not in a position to express any expert opinion
at present. I can say this however, that I consider the situation very
hopeful. Also after victory against Japan has been one I have come to like
china and the chinese very much during my many years of stay in their
country, they are truly a great people. Thanks to their energy and
philosophy of life, they will recover faster probably than any other
nation in the far east. Despite more than eight years of war and suffering
, there are of course many imponderables and there are many problems,
difficult problems to be solved before china can take a rightful place
amongst the United Nations. Mr Harrison, in your personal opinion, is
there a possibility that the war out here in the pacific might end quickly
? Well to that I ought to reply like Churchill. I think that I am not a
prophet. But what I have seen of the Japanese makes me believe that they
will go on to almost complete destruction. There is a possibility that the
war could end quickly, but it would require another long talk to tell you
why I personally, my guest for what it is worth is that the war will last
1.5 year longer. Bet that period will be shortened by six months at least
if Russia entered the war against Japan, one more reaction now and I'm
going to let you go. Mr Pearson. What do you think of our american
fighting man? Well that is a question which I find it both easy and
difficult to answer difficult because it is very hard to describe certain
feelings. You must remember that I owe my life and what is more my liberty
from Japanese bondage to the United States of America. That is why I want
to return here and remain with the men and try to tell the story of their
gallantry, their devotion to duty and their magnificent fighting province
, not only to my own countrymen, but if at all possible to the american
public as well. I want them to know what a Norwegian feels about it all
those parameters on dark, moist nights in the jungle, the savage, fighting
against a mad subhuman horde, the heat, the mosquitoes, the malaria, the
nervous exhaustion which can and do play havoc with the strongest
character in physic. It's a fight to death to kill or be killed. That the
americans have what it takes and a lot more. Besides words can be cheap
and as often as not it is impossible to do justice to what one sees in
here every hour of the day and night and they seem so many and so long
these days and nights. But the G I know that at the end of the road there
is home America and their loved ones for whom they are perfectly willing
to give all. It is only when you are on actual combat and try to share
their struggles that you realize deep down in your heart of hearts, what a
colossal debt. Not only their own country, but the world go to these men.
I agree with you heartily Mr Pearson and I thank you personally for all of
Arizona for this expression so sincerely and so intently made friends. Mr
person is a Norwegian by birth and by citizenship. He's been out here in
the orient a great many years. He went through the Japanese occupation of
Manila. I'm sure you've gathered from his remarks that he is an authority
on what has happened out here and what may happen in the future. I thank
him and hope he has a marvelous trip to the United States and can return
for the entrance into Tokyo as he has suggested he should certainly love
to do. I think we now have shortly within a few minutes here in Manila an
interview with general Stilwell. So we'll let you go now until another
time and here is fredMacpherson