Missionaries

Apology to Lutheran Missionaries Australian Publishers Correct an Injustice

TERRITORIANS temporarily in Aus

tralia have no doubt recently noticed in the metropolitan news papers an “apology and correction ” from publishers Angus & Robertson, Ltd., concerning a book written by George H. Johnston— C( New Guinea

Diary.” ,

In his book, Johnston alleged that the Lutheran Missionaries in the Salamaua district of New Guinea aided the Japanese on their march up the Markham Valley.

The following note has been re ceived from the Brisbane headquarters of the Lutheran Mission which ex plains both Mr. Johnston's allegations

and the subsequent apology of his

publishers :

IN March, 1942, after the Japanese had Invaded the mainland of New Guinea Territory and had established them selves at Salamaua and Lae, it was alleged by war correspondents that Luth eran missionaries of Australian and American nationality were aiding the enemy in guiding him up the Markham Valley. In sensational manner, the daily press branded these missionaries as traitors and no end of calumny was heaped on them, and the whole Lutheran Church of Australia and America was dis credited and placed under suspicion, which caused heartache and injustice.

One of the war correspondents, George J. Johnson, later compiled a book, “New Guinea Diary,” in which he repeated the slanders in a form that was even more objectionable than the original. On page 55 of his book he states: “The most inter esting feature of the (Japanese) advance is that certain Lutheran missionaries— of Australian, British and American nationality—have been acting as guides for the Japs, and our guerillas on the other side are very anxious to meet some of the white traitors.”

The book was published by Messrs.

Angus & Robertson, of Sydney. In an endeavour to clear the names of the mis sionaries and to rehabilitate the mission, steps were taken to cause the publishers to apologise and to correct that portion of the book that was objectionable.

The company was immediately willing to offer as much redress as was possible.

In addition to publishing an apology in all the capital cities of the Common wealth and of New Zealand, it has under taken to advise all libraries and all dis tributors of the book of the apology and correction, and it has supplied to all of them printed slips correcting the pas sage objected to. These slips are to be pasted in every copy of the book which it is possible to reach. The publishers also undertook to omit the passage objected to from any further edition of the book, and they have paid all costs which have arisen.

A collection of Fiji native handicrafts, collected by Captain R. M. Donohue, of the US Army nursing service, was on ex hibition in Baltimore, USA, during October. The exhibition consisted of native wood carvings, wall hangings made from bark, grass skirts and mats, purses, toilet articles of tortoise shell and examples of basketry, beadwork and model canoes.