'American Compensation'

Yarns Are Lies War Claims Position In The Solomons

HONIARA. March 1.

“ ASTONISHING” was a mild word rl, to apply to the American letter to a Solomon Islands land-owner (pub lished in December PIM) in which the American writer declared that “the British claim that United States troops invaded the Islands, and thus our Gov ernment must pay for the damage caused by either our shells or Jap shells,” and further alleging that one Protectorate firm was already in receipt of Ameri can compensation.

The strange beftef that America is be ing called upon to pay war damage com pensation, and the old canard about a certain BSIP sbap firm being paid £1 per lost coconut palm, are both lies, as every Islands resident knows: and both should be flatly contradicted whenever encountered, before 'can do any more harm.

Here are the actual facts.

No compensation for war damage has been paid by America to anybody in the Solomons in the past, and no claim for any war damage will be made on the Americans in the future.

A War Damage Commission for the Western Pacific High Commission ter ritories is functioning in Suva now, cor relating facts and investigating the position as regards war damage claims; but it must be fully understood in the meantime that the British Government has not yet assumed any responsibility

ta r the e soiomons. ol war damage claims No pronouncement on the subject is likely to be made by the British Gov eminent until the War Damage Claims Commission has reported on the position, and it has been decided what steps to take.