NO CHANGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIV, Issue 22701, 30 September 1943, Page 5

NO CHANGE

Status Of General MacArthur Subject Of Agreement By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright CANBERRA, September 29. “I am not aware of any change in the status, authority or command of General Douglas MacArthur, and no change would be made without the Australian Government’s agreement.” This statement was made in the House of Representatives by the Prime Minister (Mr J. Curtin). “The set-up in the South-west Pacific area and the boundaries of this region were the subject of agreement between Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands, and they cannot be varied without the consent of the parties- to the agreement. The apoointment of Acting-Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten does not impinge in any way on General MacArthur’s command in the South-west Pacific, nor subordinate the South-west Pacific to the South-east Asia command. The eastern boundary of Lord Mountbatten’s command is the western boundary of General MacArthur’s command. “Lord Mountbatten was appointed by Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt. This is their right and privilege, as they are supplying the North-east Asia region. The closest co-operation exists in matters of higher policy between Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt and the Australian Government and between General MacArthur and myself.”