The logic of Higashikuninomiya shown in 'A national confession of Japanese war guilt' was in contrast to that of Foreign Minister Shigemitsu who insisted that past political leaders were exactly the persons who should take responsibility.
一億総懺悔論に見られる東久邇宮の考え方は、過去の政治指導者こそが責任を負うべきとの重光外相の考え方とは対照的であった。