Backing For N.Z. And Australia

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 254, 26 October 1945, Page 5

Backing For N.Z. And Australia

JAP SURRENDER TERMS

House Of Lords Plea For Full Consultation N.Z.P.A.—Copyright—Rec. 12 noon. LONDON, Oct. 25. A strong plea for British backing for the Australian and New Zealand demand to be consulted about the imposition of surrender terms on Japan and the general settlement in the Far East was made by speakers in the House of Lords. Lord Denman, who was Governor-General of Australia from 1911 to 1914, emphasised the detestation with which the southern Dominions regarded the Japanese for their cruelty toward the war prisoners and civilians whom they captured. "The history of modern war has no record So terrible as the Japanese treatment of our war prisoners," Lord Denman declared. It is all very well for reverend prelates to denounce the use of the atomic bomb, but the bomb saved many thousands of our war prisoners from being massacred or from the lingering terror of starvation and disease. I believe Japanese cruelty was deliberate and studied to humiliate white men and women in the eyes of Asiatics. It is a thing we cannot afford to ignore. "I do not advocate a policy of revenge," he went on to say, "but the criminals who committed these atrocities ought to be hunted down and brought to trial. Policies are being framed and decisions taken in the Far East that will affect not only the nations whose borders rest on the Pacific Ocean, but the future of the whole world. In the British Commonwealth none are so vitally affected as Australia and New Zealand." Lord Denman moved a motion calling attention to the vital interest of the peoples of Australia and New Zealand in the manner in which the surrender terms imposed on Japan are carried out, and recording the detestation with which Japanese treatment of war prisoners and civilian captives is regarded by ' the British people.

"Cannot Risk Policy Change"

- "We cannot afford to gamble on a change m Japanese policy," said Viscount Cranborne, former Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, supporting the resolution moved by Lord Denman. "Any weakness on our part would not easily be forgiven." He asked for a Government statement as soon as possible on its policy toward Japan.

Viscount Maugham, also supporting the motion, said: "We owe Australia and New Zealand a great debt, and it is up to us to help them in every possible way." He pointed out that the tracing of war criminals in Japan was most difficult, but he was anxious that not. one day should be lost in bringing them to book.

Viscount Bennett, a former Prime Minister of Canada, expressed the opinion that the problem was one for the Allies and not for Britain alone. "I regret," he added, "that we should single out Australia and New Zealand as being most. vitally concerned, in view of the fact that the Pacific Ocean washes the shores of Canada."

Viscount Bennett said talk of democratising Japan was merely deception being practised on the world. It was incredible but true that a million undefeated Japanese laid down their arms at the word of one man—the Emperor.

Lord Croft, formerly Under-Secre-tary of State for War, emphasised the tremendous contributions Australia and New Zealand made to victory, considering their populations and resources.

The Secretary for the Dominions, Lord Addison, on behalf of the Government, spoke appreciatively of the vital services rendered by Australia and New Zealand in helping to stem the tide of Japanese invasion and also their services in Africa and Crete. He was sure that Canadians, without deprecation of their own remarkable contribution, would agree with that.

Lorcl Addison added that Britain was in daily consultation with the Dominions. The British-Dominion association was the most remarkable the world had ever seen and it was the Government's aim to consolidate it still further if that were possible. He shared the hope that the Far Eastern Commission would not hesitate to speak its mind and make recommendations that would lead the Allies to pursue a policy through which Japan would be effectively deprived of any power in future to commit such abominations.

The termination of Japan's power to make aggressive war should be perpetuated. The termination of the cruelties that had been experienced in the last three years was vital to the well-being and even continuance of the British Commonwealth. "We shall and do keep this before us," he added, "and practically ever since I took office it has been a subject of daily consultation with other members of the Commonwealth."

Lord Addison expressed the hope that Japanese war criminals would be more speedily brought to book than Europeans. A great mass of evidence was coming m daily from liberated prisoners of war and internees.

The House of Lords adopted Lord Penman's motion.