Speculation About Pending
p. 15 · Read in the full issue
Who Will Direct The
Spc?
Speculation About Pending Appointments
Special to the i( PIM”
WHEN former Colonel John Kerr, who succeeded Colonel J. K. Murray as Commanding Officer of the Army School of Civil Affairs at Duntroon (on the appointment of the latter as Admin istrator of the Provisional Administra tion of Paoua-New Guinea) and who was 'if. indeed, he is not still), acting as Principal of the Australian School of Pacific Administration, took on the job of acting organising secretary of the newlv established South Pacific Com mission. speculation was rife as to who was in line for the attractive nermanent job of Secretary-General, at £2 000 sterl ing per annum, without tax.
Some tipsters believed that Mr. Kerr was sitting on the job until it could be seen whether his former Armv Chief and Svdney University contemporary. Colonel Alfred Conlon (war-time head of the ex traordinary branch of Australian Army headquarters known as the Directorate of Research and Civil Affairs) was avail able for it.
Mr. Conlon’s own ideas about this are not known. His present intention, apparently, is to complete his medical course at Sydney University. Incident ell v, like his colleague, Mr. Kerr, he holds a Law degree already.
The motives behind the apparently all absorbing interest of the two Colonels in the welfare of the people of the Pacific end in the affairs of Australia’s Islands Territories during the war. represent one of the modern Pacific enigmas. And to know the motives behind their apparent continuing interest is an equal nuzzle. Mr.
Kerr, incidentally, has more than once nubliclv stated that his one interest now is in the practice of law. and some time ago he announced his resignation as Principal of the School of Pacific Admin istration.
Who is, in fact, the present Principal of that institution seems to be anybody’s guess!
It was generally believed that since the South Pacific Commission was primarily the inspiration of Dr. H. V.
Evatt. an Australian would be selected as Secretary-General, This caused a good deal of speculation—particularly the announcement of Mr. Kerr of his “return to the bar.”
Speculation in certain quarters «t this stage pointed to Mr. Conlon, and it is believed that his chances were canvassed.
However, for such a position, which re quires experience in the field of inter national affairs and a thorough know ledge of the Pacific, Mr. Conlon’s back ground seemed to lack certain essentials.
A rising young man in the Pacific Division of Evatt’s corps of diplomatic officials at Canberra, also a Sydney law graduate, has had a good deal to do with behind-the-scenes activities in the or ganisation of the Commission —Mr. T. J.
Pvman. But Mr. Pyman is a comparative newcomer in the Pacific branch, having ■™ned the Evatt team only towards the end of the war.
The man of largest and widest experi ence in this field is Mr. Pyman’s chief.
Mr. W. D. Forsyth, who is not a gradu ate in Law of Sydney University, but in Arts (Melbourne) and Literature (B Litt.) of Oxford; his career fills the larger part
of a column of “Whos Who In Australia.”
He was recently Australia’s representative at meetings of the Trusteeship Council (in association with Mr. J. R. Halligan, Secretary qf the Department of External Territories), and he has been a special envoy on Dr. Evatt’s behalf at a number of recent international gatherings; and it would not surprise anyone if he were the appointee to the Secretary-General ship of the Commission —if an Australian is to fill that post.
It is expected that an announcement of the appointment will be made after the next meeting of the full Commission, to be held in September or October. By then, also, the choice of location of the administrative headquarters of the Com mission should be known.
Some people believe that, in order to placate the French, Noumea will be chosen.
The United States representatives, in that case, will probably press the claims of one of their nationality for the important job —second only to that of Secretary-Gen eral —of Director of the Research Council.
With their special interest in and flair for research, the Americans should have no difficulty in producing a Keesing, or a Peter Buck, from their academic ranks. (See also article on another page)