BRITISH FORCE IN JAPAN
LACK OF NEWS CRITICISED
(Special Correspondent N.Z.PA.) (Rec. 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 20. Under the title “Put These Men in the Headlines,” the “Daily Herald” today publishes a special article from a correspondent in Japan describing the work of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force and claiming that British troops in Japan believe Britain has lost all mterest in them. This is supported by the publication of a letter from the mother of a member of the occupation force asking why no news about the occupation force is given either in the British press or by the British radio. “The Commonwealth occupation troops in Japan,” she says, “now describe themselves as the forgotten army.” “The British Commonwealth Occupation Force deserves to be a household word throughout the British Isles and it j story headline news in London, Sydney, Auckland, and Calcutta.” says the “Daily Herald” correspondent. He adds that he has heard repeatedly the charge that the British Commonwealth “has dumped its occupation force "in Japan and forgotten all about them.” “The occupation force is doing a difficult job in a soldierly manner and without fuss,” adds the correspondent. “It is dealing very effectively with smuggling and maintaining itself at a very high level of efficiency as a fighting force. It also represents a new and significant step in co-operation between the armed 'forces of the British Nations.”
The article emphasises that the British Commonwealth Occupation Force is responsible for garrisoning an eighth of Japan and for maintaining the prestige of the British among the Japanese. The correspondent adds that he is investigating charges that conditions enjoyed by the British Commonwealth Occupation Force * compare unfavourably with those of Americans in Japan. This is the first article of any size dealing with Japan or the British Commonwealth Occupation Force that has appeared in any leading British daily newspaper for at least four months.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24986, 21 September 1946, Page 7
Word Count
315BRITISH FORCE IN JAPAN Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24986, 21 September 1946, Page 7
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