PRISONERS OF JAPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 271, 15 November 1943, Page 3

PRISONERS OF JAPS.

Messages To Be Sent Through

Papal Channels

AUSTRALIAN ARRANGEMENTS 1 SYDNEY, Nov. 13. The Apostolic Delegate to Australia, Archbishop Panico, has arranged with the Vatican for messages to be sent through Papal channels to Australian prisoners of war in Japanese ; hands. Archbishop Panico hopes that he . will be able to arrange also for prisoners of war to send replies ! through the Papal Delegate at Toftyo and Vatican Radio to the Papal ' Delegation at North Sydney. Archbishop Panico, in announcing . the new service, said that Archbishop Paul Marella, Papal representative in Japan, had recently visited some of the prisoner of war camps and had distributed gifts to the men on behalf of the Pope. Archbishop Marella reported that prisoners were receiving satisfactory treatment, but that it had to be remembered living conditions in Japan were very different from those in Western countries. He promised to interest himself as far as possible in the welfare of the prisoners. Special forms for messages to prisoners are obtainable from the Papal Delegation, 40, Edward Street, North Sydney, or from Catholic patriotic organisations in the capital cities, such as C.U.S.A., Sydney headquarters of which are at 294, George Street. The service is free. The complete forms should be sent to the delegation, which will then send them to Japan Messages my'also be sent by telegraph. These will be telegraphed to the Vatican, and from there to the delegation in Japan. These will be expensive, and senders must defray the cost, it is stated. For some time the Vatican has been endeavouring to expedite communications with prisoners of war in Japanese hands, it was learned in Auckland to-day. Catholic Church authorities here are confident that whatever improved facilities are made available to Australians will most probably apply also to New Zealanders, in that -it is the function of the Apostolic Delegate in Sydney to handle all affairs concerning Australia and New Zealand.