Flag In

Navy Showed The Flag In British Solomons Did Not Participate In Marching Rule Arrests

STATEMENT which clears up the Solomon Island situation was issued in Suva on September 25, by

the Acting High Commissioner for

the Western Pacific, Mr. J. F. Nicoll.

Misleading and exaggerated reports

of the part played by the Royal and Royal Australian Navies in the recent

arrest, in BSI, of Marching Rule

leaders have appeared in the Aus tralasian Press. The, Navies were, in

fact, showing the flag, nothing more.

They had no part in the arrests.

Mr. NicolVs statement said: IN consequence of a defiant attitude on the part of the leaders of the Marching Rule movement, with the announced intention of causing disturb ances, it became necessary to effect the arrest of certain of these leaders. Their activities were upsetting the law-abiding section of the population and it was clear that a violent clash between the March ing Rule movement and its opposition would probably eventuate. These arrests have all been carried out by the local administration without any incidents of violence.

In pursuance of the usual policy of showing the flag, HMAS Warramunga visited Honiara between September 3 and 6, in the course of a routine cruise which was arranged some months ago and which had no relation to the activities of the Marching Rule movement. In order to provide a steadying influence following the period when most of the arrests mentioned above were carried out, arrangements were made for HMS Con test (a destroyer) to visit Malaita where the Marching Rule movement is largely concentrated, on September 4, and to re main in the area until September 15.

Although “Contest” took no part in the arrests of the leaders, her presence was most useful and in particular the admir able and tactful bearing of her officers and ratings contributed substantially to restoring confidence. In consequence the local administration was enabled to stabi lise the position more quickly than would otherwise have been possible.

On September 10 and 11, the submarine HMS Amphion in the course of a routine cruise paid a brief visit to Santa Ana, a small island with a population of about 300 people situated in the south east of the Protectorate. The aircraft carrier HMS Theseus wearing the flag of Rear Admiral Creasy, and accompanied by the destroyer HMS Cockade are at present passing through the Solomon Islands area in the course of their return to their base at Hong Kong following a visit to Australia and New Zealand.

It is emphasised that the mission of these warships was and is to show the flag only and that they were not sent there for punitive purposes. As has been stated, the arrests of certain Marching Rule leaders have been carried out en tirely by the resources of the local ad ministration and that no violent incidents occurred.

The latest reports show that the poli tical situation in the Protectorate is im proving satisfactorily.

Lieut. Col. Felix Broche, who com manded the French Pacific Battalion, and who was killed at Bir Hacheim in 1942, has been posthumously appointed a Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur.