FAR EAST PROBLEMS

Grey River Argus, 4 January 1946, Page 5

FAR EAST PROBLEMS

COUNCIL FOR JAPAN Australia to Represent Empire (Rec. 7.50) . CANBERRA, Jan. 2. An Australian is to represent the British Empire on the Allied Council for Japan. This is a final recognition by the United Kingdom that Australian interests are paramount among those of the Empire countries ’ in the Pacific. The Council is to police the decisions made by the United Nations in Japan. The person nominated shall be acceptable to Britain, New Zealand, and India, all of whom have vital interests in the Pacific area. The appointment will be one of the most important ever given to an Australian. Represented on the Council will be America and Russia, and the Australian representative will be dealing with individuals of high ability. LONDON, January 3. The British Commonwealth Occupation Force for Japan is expected to remain in service for five years, and may be followed by a civil administration in which the senior posts will be taken by Allied former officers. It is expected that many officers will make their careers in Japan. Japan faces serious shortages of food, fuel, and clothing. The situation is expected to become worse in the spring, and particularly during the next two months. SHANGHAI, January 2. The Korean Association sent a letter to the Russian, British and American Consuls describing the trusteeship as contrary to justice, humanity and international faith. The letter, which was also directed to the Chinese Government, said: “We must insist on the formation of a democratic Government for the immediate freedom and complete independence of Korea”. It is estimatde there are 500,000 Koreans in China.

JAPAN’S POLITICAL PARALYSIS,

COMMUNISTS ALONE ACTIVE.

(Rec. 9.40.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 3. It has been reported to the United States War Department by General MacArthur that Communism is being revived in Japan. General MacArthur, in a lengthy survey of non-military activities in Japan and fci Korea, added: “Many younger Japanese are questioning whether the salvation of the country lies in democracy or in Communism.” The Communist Party has not yet been reconstituted, but it has carried on a vigorous programme. Its presence is keenly felt on the. political scene. The Communist Party leaders indicate that it will carry on a “Popular Front” programme, and is approaching the Socialist Party programme in many respects. The Party leaders stated their main objective was to break the financial oligarchy and to establish a democratic Japan in accordance with the Potsdam Big Three declaration.

General MacArthur pointed out: “The Japanese are completely inexperienced in democracy. Millions of peasants and the women generally are politically ignorant. Furthermore, the real Japanese leaders are afraid to speak out, as they do not know how long the United States troops will remain in Japan to protect them against the dreaded State Police. Thus, it will ■ readily be understood why there have as yet been no significant political developments in Japan.” TRIAL OF JAP GENERAL (Rec. 8.40) MANILA,’Jan. 2 The trial of General Homma, a former Japanese commander, has been opened here. The same room as that in which General Yamashita was condemned to death is being used for the trial. This trial is lacking in drama and tension that surrounded the trial of General Yamashita. General Homma, dressed in a white suit, looked mournful. He stared at his hands as the prosecution and defence counsel argued' the question of a Military Commission having authority to try General Homma and other Japanese Generals. The defence sharply criticised the charges against General Homma as being slipshod and loosely drawn up. General Homma is accused of condoning the Bataan death march and other atrocities.

BRITAIN AND SIAM. BANGKOK, January 2. Describing a British-Siam peace agreement as satisfactory, the Siamese Premier, Seni Parmot thanked Britain for her generosity., Siam must hand over an accumulated surplus of rice of up to 1,500,000 tons, and make available for purchase by Britain all rice above what is needed internally during the next 21 months. Siam is called upon to stimulate the production of rice, tin, rubber and teak, traffic in which will be regulated. Siam is forbidden, in the interests of British security, to cut a canal across the narrow portion of the peninsula, to link up the Indian Ocean with the Gulf of Siam without the concurrence of the British Government. Others of the treaty’s 24 articles provide for the withdrawal of claims to British territories acquired since December 7, 1941, the restoration of property taken away from these territories, or the payment of compensation for it; the exsequestration of British banking and commercial concerns in/Siam, and the restoration of or compensation for till official and private British property; the resumption of normal diplomatic relations at once, and the exchange of diplomatic representatives. Siam retains her freedom sovereignty, and independence. (Rec. 11.25) NE WYORK, Jan. 3 The Siamese Government has committed itself in correspondence with Lord Mountbatten to sign an agree-* ment with him on certain matters not coverel in the reecntly published British conditions making the termination of hostilities. The New ; York “Herald Tribune’s” correspondent comments that this agreement is entirely separate from the BritishSiamese terms which the United States Government considers too harsh. It is believed that it deals

with the blocking of Japanese assets, war crominals, and other; matters pertaining to the liquidation of the Japanese war effort,