Inquiry
p. 24 · Read in the full issue
The Blame For
Rabaul
Another Demand For Inquiry
CANBERRA, April 11.
AN inquiry into the fall before the Japanese, of Australian garrisons at Rabaul and other Pacific bases, was demanded in the Australian Parliament to-day by Mr. Cameron (Liberal, SA).
Mr. Cameron said in the House of Representatives: “The Commonwealth Government has made no authoritative statement on just what happened to our garrisons in certain parts of the Pacific.
“I put it to the Government they had no hesitation in setting up a Court of inquiry to find out whether there were too many Korean women and children aboard the Japanese destroyer ‘Yoizuki.’
We should pay at least the same atten tion to the feelings of our own people and find out for once and for all what really happened to their relatives who were members of garrisons overrun by the Japanese early in the Pacific war.
“I am referring to garrisons like Rabaul, and Koepang, in the South-West Pacific, and over near the Netherlands East Indies.
“It is the direct and inesca’pable re sponsibility of the Government to find out what happened to these garrisons.
There are enough people vitally in terested in these garrisons to see the Government shoulders this responsibility and carries out an investigation. I have written to the Prime Minister (Mr. Chif ley) asking him to have inquiries made.”
Editorial Note
IT will be astonishing if Mr. Cameron gets any action by the Australian Government. The abandonment of 300 male civilians in Rabaul to the Japs by Australia was one of the most damn able things in the Pacific war. It was the result of muddle and incompetence by two or three gentlemen who now hold very high official positions.' Demands for an inquiry and placing of the blame for the virtual murder of over 200 Australian men, have been made again and again; but Australian Minis ters, for reasons best known to them selves, have made common cause with Brasshats and bureaucrats in avoiding such an inquiry. The demand should be made an issue in the forthcoming general election in Australia.