Cousens’ Broadcasts From Japan Held Very Insidious

Grey River Argus, 24 March 1947, Page 2

Cousens’ Broadcasts From Japan Held Very Insidious

CANBERRA, March 20

“News commentaries prepared by Cousens and broadcast by Japanese announcers to America and Australia were enemy propaganda of the most insidious type, resembling closely that of the late William Joyce, from Nations in Germany,” said the Army Minister, Mr Chambers, in the House of Representatives to-day, when delivering a statement on the reasons for the cancellation of Cousens’ commission. He believed that the recommendation that Cousens be asked to show why his commission should not be withdrawn was made by a conference of the acting Crown Solicitor, counsel briefed by the Commonwealth in civil proceedings, and senior officers, military and civil, of the Army ■ Department. The conference recommended that, in view of the time that had elapsed, trial by court martial should not be proceeded with, but that documents cledrly showed that Cousens was unfit to hold a commission.