BRITISH GRIEVANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22319, 2 May 1947, Page 5

BRITISH GRIEVANCE

LOSS OF_PRESTIGE MINOR ROLE IN'JAPAN INFERIOR CONDITIONS (10 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 1. The British authorities in Tokyo feel that their country is gradually losing prestige in Japanese eyes and that the British forces are playing a secondary role in the over-all picture o£ the Far Eastern occupation, says the Christian Science Monitor's chief Far Eastern correspondent, Mr. Gordon Walker. The British line stops south of Kobe and there is considerable British concern at not occupying such a metropolitan centre. The British area, which is noticeably lacking in large cities and modern homes and conveniences, was agreed to at a Tokyo conference late in 11)45. The British now feel they have been relegated to a position in Japan which may in future jeopardise British prestige and interests in the Far East. Many British officers have complained .that while they are nominally in tactical command the actual authority is vested in the American Military Government officers commanding local Military Government teams who, in most cases, considerably under-rank the British. Complaints Over Conditions But the feeling is even stronger over questions oi general facilities and living conditions. It is apparent to the visitors that the British forces in Japan still lack the comforts and amenities enjoyed by the American forces, but it is admitted that one of the largest contributing factors is the dearth of first-class tood shipped to Japan by the British Commonwealth Governments and also the fact that the British troops are still paid in highly inflated Japanese yen while the Americans receive payment in occupation dollars of a steadily mounting local value. Mr. Walker, pointing out .that while Japan's sudden capitulation ended the British plans for a more decisive role in combat in and around Japan, asserts that much could be done now to maintain and enhance the British Commonwealth prestige in Japan. Some British authorities in Tokyo have suggested as an alternative that ii the British were permitted liaison staffs in the various Military Government sections, Britain’s participation in the occupation could be successfully achieved with only a battalion of British. troops stationed in Tokyo.