End Of The Pacific War

What is Now Happening in the Various Territories

DURING the past month—since the formal surrender of the Japanese on August 15—there has been a rapid rearrangement of forces and administrative machinery in the Western Pacific: and it is possible to make a summary of the new post-war situation which now is taking shape, and which probably will endure for some consider able time.

Responsibility for the administration of Western Pacific and South-eastern Asia Territories has been divided as follows:

United States

Main islands of Japan, and the small archipelagoes immediately southwards — Bonins, Volcanoes and Ryukyus.

Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Islands (former Jap mandate).

Southern part of Korea.

In co-operation with Britain and China. —Indo-China.

Great Britain

Burma, Siam, Malaya, including Singa pore.

Hong Kong.

In co-operation with Dutch. —Netherlands Indies, except Celebes, Moluccas, Timor and Dutch New Guinea.

In co-operation with Americans and Chinese. —Indo-China.

Australia

Northern Borneo.

Nauru —Mandated Territory of New Guinea. —Ocean Island.

In co-operation with Dutch. —Celebes, Moluccas and Dutch New Guinea (being eastern part of Netherlands Indies), and western half of island of Timor.

Russia

Manchuria, Sakhalin Island and Kurile Islands.

Northern part of Korea,

China

Re-occupation of Eastern China.

In co-operation with British. —lndo- China.

Holland

In co-operation with British and Aus tralians. —Re-occupation of Netherlands Indies. * THE first duty of the Allies, after Japan’s surrender, was the rapid recovery of American, British, Aus tralian and Dutch soldiers and civilians from widely-scattered Jap prisons. Great numbers already had died there under shocking tortures and starvation, and the death-rate was steadily increasing. This appalling task is still in progress.

A special article on the fate of the civilian prisoners taken in New Guinea and other Western Pacific Islands is published on page 49 in this issue.

Where Japs Are Surrendering

TH E next duty—which proceeded simultaneously with the recovery of prisoners—was the rounding-up of Japanese troops who had surrendered in the various Territories and islands out side of Japan. These surrenders took place in the Western Pacific and Indo nesia on various dates between September 2 (following the final, formal capitulation of Japan to the United States in Tokio Bay) and September 10, in these places: Various points in Philippines. —To the Americans.

Saigon Undo-China ). —To the Americans and British.

Hong Kong, Bangkok (Siam), Singa pore, Penang (Malaya). —To the British.

Various centres in Borneo, Morotai (Netherlands Indies), Wewak (New Guinea), Rabaul, Bougainville, Nauru. — To the Australians.

At this date (September 12) the out standing factor of the rapidly developing post-war situation is the tremendous demand being made upon sea and air transport, for carrying rescued prisoners back to their own countries, for carrying the surrendered Japs back to Japan, and for carrying back to United States, Britain and Australia the millions of Servicemen who had been assembling in the Western Pacific and in Indonesia for the final grand assault upon Japan.

It is plain that until that enormous task of transportation is broken —and it must occupy months—the work of re storing the various Pacific Territories to their pre-war condition of civil efficiency and tranquillity will proceed very slowly.

Uncertainty Regarding Future

In New Guinea

11TE especially are concerned with ff developments in New Guinea. It is plain that there can be nothing approaching normal conditions in New Guinea until transport facilities are available. Before transport is available for the return of the civilian population to New Guinea, ships must be provided to— (a) Take something like 150,000 Japs away to Japan. (b) Take at least an equal number of Australian soldiers back from Borneo, New Guinea, Bougainville, etc., to Australia.

Officialdom already is trying to tell the New Guinea civilians that they must await the completion of those two heavy tasks of transportation, before they can return home. New Guinea people never have received much consideration from the Australian Government; and they can expect little sympathy or help now.

If Canberra were anxious to help, it could simplify the task of providing transport. Ships will be running from Borneo and Netherlands Indies and New Guinea to Australia with Australian troops. Why cannot they pick up New Guinea passengers and cargo in Australia and discharge same in New Guinea before picking up Japanese prisoners in New Guinea for transportation northwards?

Mr. Ward’S New Set-Up

THE appointment of a Civil Adminis trator and the restoration of some sort of Civil Administration is ex pected momentarily; but it is unlikely that this will give the Territories residents very much early relief. There is unlikely to be a return to normal conditions while the Territories are in the grip of the organisations created by the genius of Mr. Eddie Ward —even if the Japs are all shipped away.

All planting, trading and transport activities are either carried out by, or are under the immediate control of Mr.

Ward’s Production Control Board; and Mr. Ward gives no indication of aban doning this field. The Provisional Administration will supplant ANGAU in Papua and part of New Guinea; and, under the direct orders of Canberra, will co-operate with and support the PCB.

Private enterprise (what Mr. Ward calls “exploitation”) probably will be con

sistently discouraged.

At the moment, there is not the slightest sign that any of the big trading companies are planning to resume opera tions in the Territories. They will protect their considerable properties there; but —since Mr. Ward wants it that way— the whole business of selling, buying, distributing, financing, exchange and transport is being left to the Adminis tration.

And—as the residents are permitted slowly to return —they Will find that Territories’ life under such conditions is very grim indeed.