Pacific News-Review

Notes And Comment On

International Affairs

From Oct. 15 To Nov. 16

Oct. 15: Pierre Laval, prominent French statesman, who was Premier of the Vichy Government which collabo rated with the Germans, was shot as a traitor, after a sensational trial.

Oct. 18: Position in Netherlands Indies is extremely difficult. The British are slowly occupying the Territory, but owing to fear of political repercussions in Lon don they avoid any open breach with the Indonesians, whose “Provisional Government” claims the right to govern ' the country. The Dutch, lacking trans port to bring troops and equipment from Europe, are not able to challenge the Indonesians. United States and Russia, both sensitive on the subject of national self-determination, remain ‘aloof.

Oct. 19: Power was restored to Syd ney’s industries to-day, after four days’ blackout. Federal Labour Government practically surrendered to Bunnerong power-house strikers.

Oct. 21: Part of the 200,000 Russian troops in Bulgaria are deployed along the southern frontier, facing Turkey. Owing, to Russian insistence on being given rights to use the Dardanelles, there is tension between Russia and Turkey.

Oct. 22: A rebellion is in progress in Venezuela, and 300 people have been killed and 1,000 wounded in fighting in the capital, Caracas.

Oct. 23: Indonesians are showing much hostility towards the Dutch. Some 40,000 Europeans and Eurasians are being held in prison camps, under very bad condi tions.

Oct. 23: French general elections re sulted in an overwhelming victory for the various parties supporting General de Gaulle.

Oct. 23: More than 50 Australian wives of United States Servicemen returned to Australia to-day. Some were widows— but most were either divorcees, or vic tims of “disillusionment.”

Oct. 24: Deterioration of relations be tween Britain, United States and Russia led to persistent reports that Stalin was dead, or in very bad health, but this is now denied by the Russians.

Oct. 24: The notorious Norwegian traitor, Vidkun Quisling, was executed to-day in an Oslo fortress, after a long trial.

Oct. 25: 300,000 people in New York demonstrated bitterly against British policy in Palestine. They were addressed by Labour and Jewish speakers, and hooted all references to British Govern ment.

Oct. 28: The British Commander in the Sourabaya area has ordered the Indone sians in Sourabaya and vicinity to hand over the city to the British and to sur render all their arms, on guarantees that their citizen rights will be respected. Dis cussions are proceeding, Oct. 30: Sickening and almost in credible stories of atrocities by Japs in the Philippines are being submitted by endless witnesses at the trial of General Yamasita, in Manila, as a war criminal.

Nov. 1: After an uneasy truce, fighting recommenced between British and Indo nesians in the Sourabaya area. The British commander, Brigadier-General Mallaby, was murdered, while sitting in his car parleying with Indonesians.

Nov. 2: Strikes continue to spread steadily in Australia. A large propor tion of the heavy industries are affected.

Neither Commonwealth nor State Gov ernments (mostly all Labour) will take responsibility—each blames the other.

Nov. 3: There are anti-Jewish riots all over the Middle East, as the Pan Arab Federation develops its antagonism .to further Jewish settlement in Palestine.

Britain and America will confer and seek

a solution of the Jew-Palestine problem.

Nov. 4: Britain officially reports that all the evidence available indicates that Hitler committed suicide in Berlin, on April 29, after marrying his former mis tress, Eva Braun.

Nov. 5: It is reported that 100,000 Indo nesians are massing in Central Java against the British, who have given the Indonesians a few days to lay down their arms, after which they will be attacked by the full weight of British forces.

Twenty thousand Japs, who cannot be accounted for, are believed to be assist ing the Indonesians.

Nov. 6: There were record crowds, and record investments, at Melbourne Cup, which was won by Rainbird.

Nov. 7: Great indignation in Aus tralia because Australian Government, on instructions from Communist-domi nated Unions, will not allow 1,600 Dutch troops, en route from Europe to Java, to disembark in Sydney, or even come ashore on leave. Communists who went to the wharf to hoot the Dutch were well and thoroughly hosed by people on the ship, and retired in disorder. Various maritime Unions are demonstrating in favour of the Indonesians.

Nov. 10: British Prime Minister Attlee is now in Washington engaged in impor tant conversations with President Tru man. It is expected that both leaders will favour a movement for United Nations' control of scientific discoveries, especially the atomic bomb. General opinion is that close accord in world affairs is possible between America and Britain—but the possibilities are limited by the incapacity of the leaders of the two Powers, as compared with Churchill and Roosevelt.

Nov. 11: There are persistent reports that Stalin is now so ill that he cannot remain in control of the Soviet, and that a successor is being sought. This com plicates Anglo-American efforts to seek world stability.

Nov. 13: A firm censorship is being exercised in relation to events in the East Indies, but it is clear that British forces are now steadily thrusting back the Indonesians, and re-establishing order. It is expected that sufficient Dutch forces will have arrived in the Indies by Christmas to enable the Dutch to take control of this Territory.

Nov. 15; The Indonesians have formed a new “Government,” which is reported to be seeking a truce with the British.

Nov. 15: Strikes continue to extend in Australia, and a point soon may be reached when the Communist-controlled Unions will challenge the authority of the Federal Government. The latter has shown appalling weakness in handling the various industrial troubles, and in accepting the dictation of the Trade Unions in relation to international affairs.

Nov. 16: Riotous demonstrations against British rule in Palestine have broken out in Tel Aviv and British troops have been forced to fire on the crowds. Cause of the riots is Jewish dissatisfaction with the joint Anglo-American inquiry into the whole question of European Jewry. The Jews have been clamouring for years for the creation of an independent Jewish State in Palestine. Rioters in Tel Aviv have already done £lOO,OOO worth of damage.