Australia’S New Policy In

Papua And N. Guinea

Unified Control-Development of Territories Resources -Inland Capital For Both-Fortification of Pt. Moresby As Naval And Air Base

a T last, under the driving-force of international and defence consider ations, and assisted by a new and businesslike Minister for Territories, the Australian Government has adopted a definite line of policy and a plan of ac tion for its Pacific Territories of Papua and New Guinea.

The Government’s proposals are set forth hereunder; If the Commonwealth Cabinet sur vives—it is being increasingly attacked by a critical and dissatisfied electorate —and the present Minister remains, im portant changes will be seen soon in both Papua and New Guinea.

The Administrator of New Guinea (Sir Walter McNicoll) arrived in Sydney on December 5, after a trip to the Far East, and was immediately available for consultations with Federal Ministers concerning Territory matters.

As Papua, also, is vitally affected, Sir Hubert Murray (Lieut.-Governor of Papua) was asked to come south a few weeks earlier than he had intended, for consultation. It is believed that Sir Hubert dislikes the plan of “unified control” —probably because he fears that it may adversely affect his policy of pro tecting and assisting the natives, to which he has devoted a lifetime of thought and singularly successful ef fort.

- Unified Control

1. —There is to be the largest prac ticable measure of “unified control” for Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea, in place of the pre sent system, under which the admin istration of the two Territories are kept completely independent of each other.

A committee of experts in international law will examine the constitutions of the two territories, and especially the obligations and implications of the Man date, and ascertain what measure of “unification” is possible. Complete amal gamation is not at present expected; but it is certain that there will be some degree of amalgamation of the adminis trative services. There will be inter change of officers between the terri tories and exchange of experience.

A “P.1.M.” representative asked a high official whether the Government now would consider the establishment of a new principle—namely, that the best men of the trained services would be given preference in the making of major appointments. The answer was an em phatic “Yes”.

According to a report in Sydney “Sun”, November 27, Mr. Harrison said “it was necessary to develop an Australian Col onial Service”.

Problem Of Capital Site

2. —Subject to the report of the ex pert committee, it is proposed to have one administrative centre for the two Territories; and, in view of defence needs, and the desirability of a cool climate, a position on the inland plateaus of New Guinea is favoured.

Present indications are that Port Moresby (Papua) or Wau (New Guinea)

is favoured; but many matters, especi ally the method of future Government, haVe to be considered first, and in the meantime the choice may be much widened.

The new Minister (Mr. Harrison) told the press on November 30 that there would be two advisory committees ap pointed—an expert legal committee, and another committee to deal generally with both the questions of the practical am algamation of the administrations and the selection of a joint capital site for the two territories under unified con trol. That committee, which would probably be identical in personnel with that appointed about a year ago to select a new site for the New Guinea capital (Messrs. Griffiths, Thomas and Thornton) would be free to recommend any place in either Papua or New Guinea as the headquarters of an amal

gamated administration.

Mr. Harrison added that the Minis trv was anxious to bring about a develop ment of primary production in both ter ritories. and he would call for reports from the administrators on the most effective means of doing that.

Mr. Harrison told Sydney “Sun” (Nov. 27) that an announcement will be made shortly of the granting by the Common wealth Government of timber concessions for certain areas of New Guinea. “It is recognised that commencement of this industry will assist in stimulating development. This will be substantially aided by the building of the road from Salamaua to Wau, which will give an export outlet”.

Rabaul Will Not Be Future

Capital

3. —The report of the vulcanologists,

relative to the danger of another eruption at Rabaul, has been re-exam ined, and the decision to move the administrative establishment has been confirmed.

This decision cannot be given effect to for some little time; and, in the meantime, an observatory will be main tained on the edge of the volcanic ground at Rabaul, to give timely warn ing of an explosion, while good roads, and an efficient organisation, will be maintained for a quick get-away to the east and north, in the event of an eruption.

Salamaua And Lae

4.—ln the meantime, while an in quiry about “unified control” is pro ceeding, Salamaua is to be regarded as a “temporary capital”; and the Departments of Customs and of Pub lic Works are to be moved there im mediately.

This decision has been freely critic ised, especially in Rabaul. It appears to some to have been taken in order to save the face of Mr. Hughes who, in defiance of expert advice and common sense, selected Salamaua as the Terri tory’s new capital. It is pointed out, however, that Salamaua is bound to be the Territory’s chief port in the future, wherever the capital may be; and that the Customs Department should be at the chief port. There is to be a great

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amount of public works (road-building, harbour improvement, etc.) in this dis trict in the early future: and the Pub lic Works Department may find the Salamaua location temporarily conveni ent.

It is now pretty clear that, between August and October, the chief officials, in both Canberra and Rabaul, thought that Lae would become the new capital of New Guinea, and they proceeded ac cordingly. Lae was the original choice of the Griffiths Committee; was reject ed by the then Minister (Mr. Hughes) who, in association with the Adminis trator, chose Salamaua; and then, as the result of a sharp public outcry, the selection of Salamaua was abandoned.

While Mr. Hughes was still in the Territories Office, and dithering on the question of selecting a site other than Salamaua, the officials evidently thought they could save time and headaches by getting plans ready for a new town at Lae, which seemed the inevitable alter native. Hence the presence of survey ors at Lae.

The removal of Mr. Hughes, however, together with the introduction of a young and energetic Minister, and the belated recognition by Australia of her defence obligations, changed the whole picture. Quite another sort of capital is wanted, now; and the probability of Lae becoming the administrative centre of the Territory has faded into the back ground. It will only come forward again, as a rival of Wau and Salamaua, if “unified control” is found impractic able.

Fortification Of Pt. Moresby

5. —Pt. Moresby is to be fortified, and to become an “important air base and sub-naval base” for units of the Aus tralian navy and air force. No details were given in the official announce ment, published on December 7, ex cept that, through Port Moresby, Australian defence will be linked with Britain and New Zealand.

It is unnecessary, here, to point out the importance of Papua, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Hebrides and Nor folk Island in the plan of Australian de fence. Obviously, there should be an advanced base somewhere near Rabaul, as well as at Port Moresby: but the idealists who framed the mandate (at the end of “the war to end war”!) laid it down that a mandated country could not be used by the mandatory for any military purpose. This is a matter that will be closely examined by Australia’s team of legal experts, who are to advise on the future treatment of the man date.

Ships and aeroplanes, based on Port Moresby, probably can look after the northern New Guinea mainland; but the more easterly parts of the mandated territory—New Ireland. Bougainville, etc. —cannot very easily be covered from

Port Moresby.

We therefore have this ridiculous position: Australia is being prepared for defence against an aggressive Asia, led by Japan. The spearhead of Japan’s southwards thrust is in the Marshall and Caroline Islands, only 1,500 miles north of Australian New Guinea. Although Japan holds those islands under the same sort of mandate as was given to Australia in respect of New Guinea, Japan is believed to be using the islands in connection with her naval and mili tary plans—while Australia, considering herself bound by the mandate, refrains from placing in New Guinea certain counter-measures that really are vital to her defences.

Agricultural Council

6. —The appointment of an “Agricul tural Council”, to foster the develop ment of primary industries, and steps to “encourage the growing of tropical crops, timber-cutting and reafforesta tion”, and the encouragement of the oil search, are planned.

Wau-Salamaua Road

7. Regarding the Wau-Salamaua road, there has been no official pro nouncement. But it is quite clear that the construction of the road is to be proceeded with. A final inspection of the alternative routes is being made, and a decision, and an announcement as to how the work will be done, is expected at any moment.

It is known that the men who now are formulating a bigger and wider developmental policy for New Guinea have been embarrassed by the road problem. Should they plan a road di rect from Wau to Salamaua, for the benefit of the goldfields communities only; or a road by the longer route (Buangs or Markham Valley), which would serve also to provide communica tion up the Markham Valley and over onto the Hamu and Purari tablelands?

Meanwhile, the reconstruction and ex tension of the road up the Markham Valley, from Lae, has been proceeding vigorously, and some good country al ready is being opened up to settlement.

In this connection, it is worth noting, as described elsewhere, that a Queens land cattle-man already is on his way into this newly-opened region, with stock.

Parties of surveyors during the past four months have examined five differ ent routes for the Wau-Salamaua road; at the and of November the Director of Public Works in New Guinea, Mr. C. R.

Field, and assistants proceeded from Rabaul to Salamaua, and started to walk over two or three of the alterna tive routes in order to make a final re commendation. It is understood that the party is giving particular attention to the Bitoi River route (which is the shortest) and to the Buangs route, which, while considerably longer, is thought to have fewer engineering diffi culties.

On November 22, the New Guinea Mining Association, Wau, sent to the Australian Prime Minister a strongly worded letter, protesting against: The continued delay in selecting the route for the road; the report that the Act ing Administrator favoured the Buangs or Markham route instead of the short route via the Bitoi; urging that any generally developmental road should be built out of revenue, and not out of the funds now being provided by the gold fields community for cheap road trans port; and suggesting that Australia take this road construction matter out of the hands of the N.G. Administration, and

allow the mining interests .to build the road themselves.

Various Comment

“If we can get over the legal difficul ties, amalgamation of the territories is the soundest course, the obvious thing for us to do”, said Sir Walter McNicoll to “Sydney Morning Herald”. “I have in the past pointed out the necessity of keeping not only New Guinea, but the string of islands extending from Papua through the Solomons to the New Heb rides. Many of these islands, with good harbours, should be semi-fortified and fitted as seaplane or warship bases, as the outer fringe of Australia’s defences”.

Referring to the proposal to develop Salamaua and Port Moresby as ports, with an inland capital for the adminis tration of both Papua and New Guinea, Sir Walter McNicoll said that an inland capital was of military value.

“it would be futile to attempt to for tify these islands heavily”, said Sir Wal ter Carpenter, in Sydney, on December 7 - “because an enemy attacking force would be in such strength that such for tifications would not form an effective barrier to the approach of the enemy to

tne maimana

“As bases for warships or submarines,

however, they would serve a very valu able purpose. Many points, in addition to Port Moresby, might be used for this purpose. Such bases would greatly in crease the mobility and efficiency of Australia’s and Britain’s naval forces. A strong naval force, collaborating with the British fleet based on Singapore, will deter any potential attacker”.

The use of Port Moresby as an ad vanced Australian defence base was vig orously advocated by Mr. White (late Minister for Customs), in a speech in the Commonwealth Parliament on No vember 25.

Can Australia Annex?

“Can Australia annex New Guinea?" was the substance of a question in the Australian Parliament by Mr. A. E.

Green on November 25.

“The mandatory has full power of ad

ministration and legislation over the ter ritory as an integral portion of the Commonwealth”, replied the Minister (Mr. Harrison). “The consent of the Council of the League is a condition pre cedent to any modification of the terms of the mandate. The annexation by any mandatory power of mandated territory by unilateral action, would, however, be regarded as a breach of trust and of the conditions under which the mandate is held”.

That, of course, is the formal official viewpoint. The fact is that the League of Nations is a hollow and useless shell, and has no authority over mandatories, and no power to enforce its decisions.

Mr. H. L. Clarke, manager of Bay Loo Co. Ltd.. Rabaul, left Sydney for New Guinea by the December “Macdhui”.