Not Welcome: Lord Moyne's Visit to Palau, in Western Carolines

Colonial War Memorial Hospital on December 23.

Not Welcome

Lord Moyne’s Visit to Palau, in Western Carolines A STRANGE account of a visit to the island of Palau, in the western part of the Caroline Group, in the North-west Pacific, now held by the Japanese under mandate from the League of Nations, is given by Lord Moyne, says an article in the Morning Post.

Lord Moyne, with a party of friends, was on a voyage of exploration to New Guinea, Borneo, and other neighbouring territories early in 1936. Hoping to visit these mandated islands, Lord Moyne had secured facilities in advance from the Japanese Embassy before leaving London.

Yet when his yacht Rosaura arrived off Palau, he was refused permission Xo enter the harbour.

“In due course,” he stated, “a launchload of officials arrived, accompanied by an interpreter. They told me very politely that landing was not allowed. They knew nothing of the letter written three months previously, but when I produced a copy in Japanese, they said they would go in and ask for instructions . .

Followed a wait of about six hours, and then the party was allowed to go ashore by launch.

“We were clearly not intended to see anything of any more serious harbour works,” Lord Moyne continued, “as on landing we were taken into the town along a new embankment in motors which were awaiting us.

“The town seemed brand new, with wellkept gardens round the Government buildings, and along the newly-made roads were trim hedges and banks cut into neat grass steps. We were impressed by the size of the Government buildings and also by the well-stocked shops, and the large number of men of the Japanese Navy in the streets.”

The party were absolutely forbidden to take photographs, and, although treated with great courtesy, they were not encouraged to stay.

“We were puzzled by the attitude of the Japanese authorities,” Lord Moyne concluded. “They are too intelligent a people to make mysteries about nothing, and their