U.S. STANDS FIRM BEHIND JAP WHALERS

Grey River Argus, 27 June 1947, Page 3

U.S. STANDS FIRM BEHIND JAP WHALERS

WASHINGTON, June 25.

Diplomatic sources revealed to-day that the United States will reject the protests by Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Norway against permitting another Japanese whalingexpedition to the Antarctic. American official pointed out that the protesting nations were advised on June 9 of the Government’s decision and General MacArthur was authorised to approve the expedition. The official emphasised that the decision was of an interim and emergency nature. It did not constitute a precedent for the future, because provisions l regarding Japanese whaling would be included in the Japanese peace treaty. The Secretary of State, General Marshall, at a press conference, later confirmed that the United States 1 Government would adhere to its decision to send the expedition. New Zealand and Norway yesterday added their protests to those of Britain and Australia against the new Japanese Antarctic whaling expedition authorised by General MacA.rthur.

A representative of one country, who asked for anonymity, aaid that, the authorisation amounted to “a piecemeal peace treaty” with Japan. Whaling would probably be an issue at. the peace conference, and a second expedition would set. a precedent which the Japanese might use at the conference as a basis for claiming whaling rights in the Antarctic. This issue should be settled only by the nations taking part in the peace conference.

Representatives’ of other protesting nations would not comment officially, but. they complained that the Japanese were being allowed to take advantage of whaling areas developed by others. “The Japanese reaction to the protests against a second Japanese Antarctic whaling expedition again indicates her regard for the United States as a friendly benefactor championing down-trodden Japan against malevolent aggressors,”- says the Reuter-A.A.P. correspondent in Tokio.