CONTROL IN PACIFIC

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 August 1945, Page 5

CONTROL IN PACIFIC

AUSTRALIA’S SHARE

RESPONSIBILITY FOR I.UitNSO, TIMOR AND AMBON

RECOGNITION OF COMMON WEALTH’S STATUS

(Rec. 12.10 p.m.) Canberra, This Day Australia will take the initial responsibility in the East Indies for Borneo, Timor and Ambon announcing this in the House of Representatives the Prime Minister, Mr Chifley, said that the division of responsibility for the other areas south of the Philippines was still under discussion. The re-occupation of Borneo, Timor and Ambon would be carried out in stages beginning as s<jon r s the instrument of surrender was signed by Japan. Mr Chifley said it had been made .clear to the British Government that the Australian commander will be responsible only to the Supreme Allied Command. The composite Australian lorce win have the same status as occupation forces being supplied by the United States. Britain, China and Russia. Mr Chifley said military commitments accepted by the Commonwealth were participation in the occupation of Japan and Singapore, and the occupation of key areas of enemy-held territories within the areas for which we accepted responsibility to secure effective control and enforce surrender, and the disarmament of Japanese torces in those areas. Emphasising that Australia’s capacity to accept additional responsibilities was limited, Chifley said the British Government intended to make available as soon as possible British anj Dutch forces from the South-East Asia Command to relieve Australian iorces in territories in which we assumed initial responsibility. Except in Papua and Australian-mandated territories, Australia would refrain from any extensions of its present responsibilities for civil affairs. TO SIGN INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER Mr Chifley gave the House details of Australia’s struggle for recognition as a major Pacific Power, and a full voice in arranging peace terms for Japan. Australia he said, had won her point and would sign the instrument of surrender in Tokio on Sunday on the same footing as the four Big Powers, Recounting the background to Australia’s discontent with the role allotted to it in the early stages of the Japanese surrender, Mr Chifley said : "Throughout the war with Japan, the Australian Government has consistently claimed the part of a principal Power in the Pacific. Before the Japanese signified their willingness to end the war we sent a general statement of our views of the treatment of Japan. Particularly, we felt, that the Emperor and the whole Imperial and militarist system and the economic dictatorship ot a few great concerns must be discredited and a complete reformation of Japan's internal structure brought about. Immediately we saw that the Japanese were trying to preserve the Emperor’s position we sent a strong expression of our view that no person or institution, not even the Emperor, should have immunity from responsibility for Japanese aggression and war crimes. We also made it clearthat we were entitled to claim a full and direct voice in decisions regarding Japan’s future and a due part in the execution of these decisions.”

Mr Chifley said Australia had been kept informed throughout by the Dominions’ Office and opr Ministers abroad, out events had frequently moved fast and there was no waste time for adequate consideration of Australia’s suggestions even when these were received before the actual decisions had been made.