FALSE BRITISH EXCUSE

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1945, Page 5

FALSE BRITISH EXCUSE

TO BAR AUSTRALIA From Signing Japan’s Surrender (Rec. 10.40). CANBERRA, August 23. Behind yesterday’s announcement that. Australia will be a signatory to the instrument of Japan’s surrender there lies an amazing story, and. one which may have repercussions within the British Commonwealth of’Nations. It is reported that; when the Commonwealth Government first intimated to the Government at London that it desired that Australia should be represented, the British Government intimated that Australia’s request could not be granted. Australia then sought the reason for this refusal, and the Government was given to understand that the United States had offered objections. Representations next were immediately made to Washington, and then the surprising reply came back that, not only had the United States Government no objection, but, on the contrary, the United States offered strong support of Australia’s claim to representation. When, this disclosure was brought under the notice of the British Government, all of its objections were withdrawn. There is, however, considerable perturbation in political circles in Canberra at the attitude that has been displayed by the British Governments in this matter. The Labour members are somewhat dismayed that the Labour Government in England should be so off-handed about Australia’s claims. The Labour members here are astonished that this effort should have been made to put Australia off with the excuse that the United States had objected. This was ob viously false, and the Australian Government circles qre wondering who w’asresponsible for it.

AUSTRALIA AND N.Z. TO CONTROL SOME PACIFIC AREAS. CANBERRA, August 23. The South-West Pacific Military Command will be dissolved as soon as General MacArthur takes up his post as • Allied Supreme Commander in Japan. It is expected that the United States will withdraw from the areas south of the Philippines after the signing of the surrender terms in Tokio. Control of this area will revert to the British, Australian and New Zealand Governments, who will decide among themselves how military and civil responsibilities will be allotted. In New Guinea, Papua, the Solomons and Ocean Islands and. Nauru, Australia will be a principal administering its own territories or mandates. Australia will be responsible for the administration of Borneo and possibly of Timor. Later, Britain is expected to control Borneo and Portugal to control Timor.

MacArthur’s Tribute TO NEW ZEALANDERS IN PACIFIC P.A. WELLINGTON, August 23 General MacArthur, in a message to the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) says: “As I will shortly relinquish command over that part of the south-west Pacific area lying southward of the Philippines, I desire' to take this oportunity to express my deep appreciation to you and the people of New Zealand for the magnificent co-operation extended to me in the discharge of my respsonsibility in our common cause. The Third New Zealand Division has acquitted itself with the utmost gallantry in the Pacific battles in which it has been engaged, thereby contributing greatly to the success of our campaigns in the south-west Pacific area. Your Air Forces, in their support of ground operations and their attacks on Rabaul and enemy positions on Bougainville, have equally commanded my admiration and high commendation. From our association 1 shall ever hold New eZaland people in deep affection, and I pray that God will further their country’s cause in the future as He has so obviously blessed her arms in the past.”