ALLIED LEADERS

Grey River Argus, 3 December 1943, Page 5

ALLIED LEADERS

PLAN JAPAN’S DEFEAT RESTORATION OF TERRITORIES Korea to be Freed FIVE DAY CAIRO CONFERENCE. AN “OPEN SECRET.’’ [Aust, & N.Z. Press Assn.] LONDON, December 1. An official communique issued at Cairo stated:— “President Roosevelt, Marshal Chiang 'Kai. Shek, and Mr. Churchill, together with their respective military and diplomatic advisers, have completed a conference in North Africa. All the principals in the conference have now left Cairo for an unknown destination.’’ The following general statement was issued: “The several military missions agreed upon future military operations against Japan. The three great Allies expressed a resolve to bring unrelenting pressure against their brutal enemv bv sea, land and air. This pressure is already rising. The three great Allies are fighting this war to restrain and punish the aggression of Japan. They covet no gain for themselves and have no thought of territorial expansion. It is their purpose that Japan shall be stripped of all islands in the Pacific which she seized or occupied after the beginning of the first World War in 1914, and that all territories which Japan has stolen from the Chinese such as Manchuria,- Formosa and the Pescadores shall be restored to the Republic of China. Japan will also be expelled from all other territories which she has taken, by violence and greed. The three Great Powers, mindful of the enslavement of the people of Korea, are determined that in due course Korea shall become free and independent. With these objectives in view, the three Allies, inharmony 'with those of the United Nations at war with Japan, will continue to "ersevere in the serious and prolonged operations which are necessary to procure the unconditional surrender of Japan.” According to Reuter’s Cairo correspondent the Chinese came to the conference with a batch of urgent problems: (1) Combined strategy for the Pacific, South-east Asia and China for the ouick defeat of Japan bv an all-out offensive (2) Re-open-ing the Burma Road bv an assault from India. (3) Supplies for the Chinese armies and peonies. (4) Postwar reconstruction of China and help from the British and Americans. Reuter’s Cairo correspondent says: The thrashed out problems in an atmosphere of cordiality and friendship. High hopes are held that machinerv will soon be established for the Pacific on the lines established for Europe after the Tripartite Conference in Moscow. It is believed the problems from the British and American side are: ('ll Carrying sea and air offensive to the gates of Japan—a determination that was reflected bv the strength of the naval officials present, the Admiralty sending 58 delegates. (2) Avoiding local operations regardable in London as a wasted effort, including the controversial subject of island hopping. (3) Correlating future strategy on the basis of a broader liaison between the staffs. (4) Settling huge problems of transport of supplies, troops and material. (5) The development of the weight of the Pacific air assault. ALLIED OFFENSIVE PLANS. (Rec. 11.50.) NEW YORK. Dec. 2. According to the United Press Washington correspondent, "increased pressure against the Japanese by land, sea and air is interpreted to mean (1) Joint Anglo-American naval operations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans; (2) a land attack through Burma, Malaya, China, and the Pacific Islands; (3) air assaults from all directions, including the Aleutian Islands. ’ The Exchange Telegraph Agency.s Cairo correspondent states: It took under three days, in a series of dramatic conferences, for the Allied strategists to plan the great new offensive from China and the Pacific. The whole pattern of Allied strategy to crash down on Japan with such force that she will be forced to surrender unconditionally was completed under five days. The great staffs from each delegation worked at too pressure from the da v they arrived until the day they left. “The conference was split up into two phases—internal conferences of service chiefs and conferences of diplomatic chiefs. The decisions reached at the conferences, apart from the avowed Allied determination to bring the Japanese, to their knees, are primarily operational and therefore secret, but I was told the Japanese will get a terrible shock when the Allied strategy is implemented.” U.S. PACIFIC COMMANDERS. ABSENCE FROM CONFERENCE. (Rec. 11.30.) NEW YORK, Dec. 2. The “New York Times’s”. Cairo correspondent says: The Cairo conference, which resulted in what might be termed a Pacific Charter, confirmed a determination to prevent Japan from building up her conquered empire while Germany’s destruction is near accomplished. A pledge to reduce the Japanese to unmenacmg status was formulated at a series of talks in which there participated virtually every military luminary the three Powers, except General MacArthur, who was represented by General Sutherland. The American Associated Press Washington correspondent says:— “The presence of every major Allied commander now active against the Japanese except General MacArthur, recalled the latter’s cryptic statement in September, ‘However subordinate my role, I hope to play it manfully.' At the same time it is pointed out that both General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz are in the midst of big campaigns requiring their presence in the Pacific.” . Four Island Groups TO BE TAKEN FROM JAPAN. INTERESTS OF N.Z. AND AUSTRALIA. IRec. 10.40) LONDON, Dec. 2. “The Times.” in a leading article says: “The Three Power statement makes it clear that the enemy will be expelled from the territories that he

has seized by violence, and he must surrender the Pacific islands which he acquired in 1914. The reference here ciearly| is to the Marshall, Caroline Belew and Marianne islands. These were placed under a Japanese mandate after the last war. Several of them have since been converted into important Japanese air and naval bases, in defiance of international agreements. The statement contains no indication of the future destiny of the islets. But it is clear that this question, which particularly, interests New Zealand and Australia, will have to be studied carefully in the light of general requirements of Pacific security. An Intimation to this effect might have been timely, though it is known that the Dominions; were consulted before the conference.”

The “Daily Express,” in a leading article, says: Japan has one privilege. She is the first among enemy, countries to be told what is in store for her. She is told, not the whole story, but a broad outline of what defeat means.”

The “Daily Mail” in a. leading article, said: “The North African conference is a guarantee that Japan will ..be finally and irrevocably defeated'. Japan will bite the dust. Her humiliation will be all the deeper by contrast with her present ambitious, overweening pride. The slogan is ‘Japan for the Japanese, and not an inch more.’ The fruits of fifty years’ brutality and treachery will have to be given up.” CUTTING DOWN JAPAN. TO 1895 DIMENSIONS. (Rec. 11.55.) NEW YORK, Dec. 2. The “New York Times’s” correspondent at Washington says: The Cairo conference is hailed in Washington as. a turning point in the war. The following points are regarded as of special significance:— (1) An agreement to strip Japan’s Empire to the original status before the China-Japan war of 1895. This is a statement of Pacific war aims far exceeding unconditional surrender.

(2) The stripping of the Japanese Empire, which means taking the southern tip of Manchuria, with its warm water ports of Dairen and Part Arthur, which were formerly in Russian occupation. This is regarded as an important preparatory step for the meeting with M. Stalin, and as a bid for Russian military support against Japan, inasmuch as Britain, America and China could offer both ports as an inducement for Russian aid.

(3) The morale of all Japanese-oc-cupied areas will be immensely lifted. ' . , (4) The promise of Korean independence presages possible military activity in that “stepping stone area, especially if Russia joins in the Pacific Coalition. Some believe that Korea mav become an important buffer State in the Orient, being backed up by the Big Four. WILL U.S. GET MANDATED ISLANDS? HONG KONG’S FUTURE. (Rec. 11.50.) NEW YORK, Dec. 2. „ The “New York Herald Tribune s Washington correspondent says:Hlie Cairo announcement has failed to clear un two important questions. They are: (1) Who will control Japan’s mandated islands after the war? Who will get Hong Kong. The answers are believed to be: (iThe United States is expected to receive full control of the Mandated Islands. However, they might be placed under the joint control of the “Bio- Four.” (2) Marshal Chiang Kai Shek is understood to have agreed to allow Hong Kone: to revert to the British, in snite of the agitation ol some of the Chinese for ousting thBritish. • American Plans FOR MANDATED ISLANDS.

(Rec 11.20) NEW YORK, Dec. 2. The “New York Times” in an edi torial, says: “The Charter written in the Egyptian desert means a reorganisation of the entire Pacific world. It also raises the question of the disposition of the mandated islands, and a whole complex of questions about colonial administiation. The declaration carefully abstains from mentioning self-govern-ment. But it may be doubted whether a mere return to the former status of the mandated 1 islands will be sufficient. America has already set the pace for a new order oy< granting the Philippines complete in dependence. The Dutch Government has moved in the same direction, and it Jnust be assumed that other Colonial Powers will be forced to take similar measures. The United States is especially interested in the mandated islands, because they are the easternmost bases for Japanese aggression against America. We have no desire for an empire. We shall certainly not covet these islands as American possessions. But some solution must be found providing for a maximum of protection with a' minimum of colonial responsibility, preferably with one or more of the great Powers acting as a trustee on behalf of all of the United Nations. We have learned, at, great cost in blood and treasure, that we must revise our thinking fundamentally about Pacific security. We shall have to maintain, together with our allies, bases where we can most effectively restrain a potential aggressor. We shall have to prepare ' ourselves to maintain a navy and an air force adequate to defend these bases.

FUTURE OF MALAYA. (Rec. 6.30.)i LONDON, Dec. 1. The Colonial Secretary, Lord Startlev stated in a Parliamentary reply to-day: "Our first objective, after the liberation of Malaya, must be to reverse the Japanese action in handing over four of the Malaya territories to Siam After that, the main aim of the British Government will be to develop the capacity of Malaya for self-government within the Empire.” JAPAN’S PLANS. ’ • TO DEFEND PHILIPPINES. (Ftec. 11.50.)' NEW YORK, Dec. 2. Released Internees from the Philippines, report that the Japanese have rebuilt the Bataan Peninsula into a fortress, where they intend to make their last stand when the Americans return. Japan has stored enoug.-. there to last for fifteen years. DUTCH COMMENT. (Rec 6.30.) LONDON, Dec. 1. Members of the Dutch Government in London, commenting on the conference in North Africa statea, according to Reuter; We fully agree with the aims expressed in. the Cairo communique. Japan has misused he islands in the Pacific for purposes of usurpation and vious.lv legitimate that the isla should be taken back from Japan. A similar principle of legitimacy di tates the return to China of. the te - ritories Japan has taken from her, and dictates Japan’s expulsion from the territories she has more rec^ n occupied, such as the Netherland indies. It. is well known that the Netherlands is firmlv resolved to continue to perservere together with the other

United Nations in serious and prolonged operations necessary to procure the unconditional surrender of Japan, MEETING M. STALIN. (Rec. 1.30.) LONDON, Dec. 2. Dispatches to the Spanish Press, from Lisbon, say that Mr. Churchill, President Roosevelt, and Marshal Chiang Kai-shek are en route to Teheran to meet M. Stalin. The Soviet Vice Foreign Commissar (Mr. Vishinskv), who is the Soviet representative on the Allied Commission for Italy, conferred with the delegates when they passed through Cairo on the way to Algiers. This conference does not exclude the possibility of an eventual meeting between the heads of the British, American and Russian Governments to deal with the fate of Germany. On the contrary such a meeting is likely, though when and where is a matter for speculation. > It is reliablv reported that the Anglo-American General Staffs engaged in argument and discussions on the details of a second front. A sense of immediacy was given to anti-Jap-anese decisions by the fact that good campaigning weather prevails in the China and Indo-Burma theatre. It was the marked absence of General MacArthur that somewhat localised the new drive. An Associated Press correspondent stated: It was obvious from the activities and make-up of this the most unusual conference during the war that it wa? not devoted entirely to the Japanese conflict. The Chinese were noticeably absent from the biggest military meeting on November 26, with General Eisenhower presiding. The spokesman said this dealt firstly, with the Mediterranean campaign, and, secondly, with grana European strategy. ■ , , The conference mav.be regarded as a prelude to further intensive talks which must result from such sweeping decisions to break the back of Japanese resistance in the shortest possible time.

News of Conference

"PREMATURE” PUBLICATION?

RADIO BEATS PRESS (Rec. 9.50) LONDON, Dec. 1. The “Daily Telegraph” says: a Government inquiry is being held into the premature publication overseas of the news of the Cairo conference. Arrangements for the release or • the news were made jointly by all of the countries concerned, but- the news was known to the enemy earlier than it was known to the British public. The news was circulated. throughout Europe on the radio arid in the press of America and in some of the Dominions long before the British public was told. Mr Elmer Davis, head of the U.S. War Information Office is reported to have sent to Mr Brendon Bracken a stiff note of protest over premature publication of the news. The “Daily Telegraph” says: The conference was held in such secrecy that not once throughout its five days was a single one out of seventy accredited correspondents allowed to see a single principal. It was with profound dissatisfaction that correspondents representing the world’s newspapers regarded the official press arrangements fox- the conference from its inception. This reached a climax on Wednesday morning, when the correspondents learned that radio stations throughout Europe and America were broadcasting. without restriction, factual news about the conference, the very existence of which the correspondents had been forbidden to communicate to the outside world. Press correspondents h.ad great difficulty in reporting the conference, which with the exception of the Atlantic meetings, was the only conference among the heads of States which there .were no meetings with the press. Throughout the conference reporter? were not permitted to see a single principal. The only news they were allowed came from foui' non-jour-nalistic observers, who reported .only physical facts such as who conferred, lunched and dined with whom, so that the conference unwarrantedly was given something of a social column tinge. The entire conference was surrounded bv thousands of soldier? in addition to the barbed wire. Censorship and security bars wei;e raised against many facts most newspapermen knew making it difficult to give a balanced portrayal of the conference. The security of the large collection of famous personages naturally played a part in the situation as the conference was held within rance of the Nazi bombers, and the Nazis knew about the meeting. The spokesman for Mr. Roosevelt conceded that the meeting was an open secret. THE DELEGATIONS. The conference was continued for five days. While the leaders were discussing agreements on principles and mapped out the future massive assault against Japan from land, sea, and air, teams of advisers met and worked out plans.

The principals departed at least three days before news of the conference was published. Marshal Chiang Kai Shek arrived on November 21 with a party of 18 followed by Mr. Churchill the same day and Mr. Roosevelt the next day, when t|he conference opened. The Chinese pax’ty and Mr. Roosevelt flew to the conference. Mr. Churchill, who was accompanied by Mr. J. C. Winant (U.S. Ambassador to London), voyaged by sea to North Africa, calling at Gibraltar, Algiers, and Malta. The British and American leaders and Marshal Chiang Kai Shek met for the first time, surrounded by the greatest assembly of Allied military and political leaders ever seen. The delegates included Admiral Leahy, Mr. Hari-v Hopkins, and Sir John Cadogan of the Foreign Office. The British partv numbered more than 200 from Britain and overseas, and included Mr. Eden, Lord Leathers, Six- John Dill. Admiral Cunningham, General Brooke, Air Marshal Tedder, General Sholto Douglas, General Wilson, Air Marshal Portal, General • Ismav Admiral Lord Mountbatten. Other Allied Commanders included Generals Eisenhower, Marshall, Arnold, and Somervell, Admiral King and the Chinese General Shangchen. The British and American Ambassadors at Moscow, Sir Archibald Clark-Kerr and Mr. Averill Harriman, the United States Ambassador to Turkev. and Mr. Steinhardt, were also present, as was Madame Chiang, who though ill flew from China with her husband. The conference area was confined into a military perimeter enclosed by barbed wire. Only delegates were allowed inside. The delegates travelled >o the conference in the utmost secrecy x , Mr. Roosevelt personally decorated General Eisenhower with the Legion of Merit. The President praised General Eisenhower’s training and preparatory work, also his outstanding contributions to the Allied cause and successes now being realised. CHINESE COMMENT. LONDON, December 1. ■ The Chinese Ambassador in Lon-

don, Dr. Wellington Koo, said: “The meeting of the leaders of Britain, America and China was an epochmaking event. It is bound to have far-reaching effects in Asia as well as in Europe. It helps again to stress that the complete defeat of Japan is as vital a cause of the United Nations as the defeat of Germany. The agreements reached will not only reveal themselvevs in successive telling blows against the common enemy, but will go far to ensure close cooperation and understanding among the Allies in building peace.” LUFTWAFFE ABSENT. (Rec. 9.5) LONDON, Dec. 1. The talks in North Africa occured in a building which was requisitioned for the Allied leaders and their large staffs. The delegations totalled about 320. Of these 201 were British. There were ninety Americans and twenty Chinese. Elaborate precautions were taken against the posibility of a suicidal Luftwaffe ra’id, but, except fox- one false alarm, resulting from a short circuit, the conference passed off in complete tranquility. Mr ChurchilFs Part (Rec. 9.25) LONDON, Dec. 1. Reuter’s Cairo correspondent states Mr Churchill has left North Africa. Two nights before he left England, Mr. Churchill was .one of the guests at a Buckingham Palace dinner party given by the King. Only a handful of those present knew he was going off on another historic mission. “The Times” Cairo correspondent states: Lord Mountbatten took a leading part in the conference discussions. He was almost continuously in the company of Mr. Churchill. both at the talks and at more private meetings. Reuter’? correspondent says Mr. Churchill had one of the busiest times of his life. He was in conference throughout the dav and evening and was working until 2 a.m. He was constantly in touch with London throughout the journey to North Africa. a special radio staff having been provided on the shin The conference was preceded bv talks at Malta between Mr. Churchill and Generals, including Generals Eisenhower and Alexander. Mr. Churchill was nearty mobbed during hi? first visit to the island during the war. The departure of Mr. Churchill, after the talks for an unnamed destination strengthened the belief that General Smuts. has been left m charge of Imperial strategy while Mr Churchill works out the future course and plan of military operations on a world-wide scale.

MR NASH'S COMMENT WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. Hon. W. Nash stated: “The welcome announcement that the three preat leaders of the United States, China and Britain have met together in Cairo to agree on future m’litary operations against Japan will be greeted with the utmost enIhusiasm by peoples of the Pacific. It is most gratifying that vhina. through the person of Marsnai Chian? Kai-shek, should take its due place in the Council of the gieat Powers, now that plans are being la : d to concentrate the whole weight of All’ed strength unon tne Pacific in order to effect the utter aefeat of J'apan, The unequivocal, terms of the communique, emphasising as thev do, that there is to be no bargaining with the Japanese, and that tho r>'‘cu r 'ftd territories are to be xestored, should be a source of very real strength to the United Nations pause, and of renewed confidence and hope to peoples now under the neel of the Japanese. The statement that the throe great Powers do not covet in the Pacific which are to he taken from the Japanese contains nothing new. and. nothing which thev have not emphasised again and npp'n, but. it is aood to have the po'nt made manifestly e'ear tha*. the rj-ii'-od Nations are not interested in torviforipi oxpansion, and that territories which had been so flagrantly 1 hipvolt by the Japanese will be restored.”