YOIZUKI'S RECALL REFUSED

Chronicle (Levin), 11 March 1946, Page 5

YOIZUKI'S RECALL REFUSED

VESSEL NEARS RABAUL CHIEFLEY'S STATEMENT SYDNEY, March 10. I Mr. Gbiftey has refused to order the | Japanese destroyer Yoizuki mto an } Australiair port following the request by General MacArthur to disembara all ' women and children and maies of famiiies at Rabaul or some port nearer Sydney selected by the Austraiian oiticials. The vessel is reported to be nearer Babaui than to any Austraiian i port or the first original port of cali, j Dredgerhaven. Mu., GhMey stated he did not propose ; to enter into any recriiiunations with une' Dnited States autnorities on the Yoizuki episode. An unfortunate misi anderstanaing appeared to hav e arisen as to. the control of shipping of prisoners of war and internees from Aus- ' tralia. a "I do not propose to enter into any , recrimmations as to how the present i nnsundersTianding arose, because tne | Supreme Allied Commander, Generai : lvraeArDhitr, has been a good friend to . -iiistraiia ancl, indeed, generous in giw ing help in regard to shipping ana in ! many other ways, ' ' the Prime lvmiistei : said. i i In any event, an mspection hy com- : petent Austraiian autnorities wouid tane place. Mr. Ghifley declared that information receivea from aeparcaieiioS, sappoiueu oy dociunentary evidence, appeared to 1 mdieate clearly that control oi shipping was suoject to the United States autnj onties. IVlen, women and children hau ! oeen transported on Japanese snips | previousiy, as, for exampre, the Daikai Maru, wmch left about a lortmght ago. At a conlerence heid some months agc oetween representatives of the United States and the Austraiian authorities, it had been decided tnat such snips snouicl take both sexes. The most recent reports indicate that the Government is Gonsidermg aypoint mg a Royal Gojnmission to investigata the incident. A umnese Legation officer was flown to Raoaui to meet the ship on arrival and interview the Pormosans. Opposicion members are planning a censure motion, whicn will ne launcned on Wednesday., The Upposition leader, Mr. Menzies, said that the Government had no option but to demand a thorough inquiry- into the incident. Meanwhile the next developments are expected to come from the ship herself, as she should arrive at Rabaul late tomorrow. The Deputy Leader of the Federal Opposition (Mr. Harrison) said: "The extraordinary exhibition of shifting responsibility for the embarkation oi women and children on the 'hell ship' Yoizuki has been exposed by General MacArthur in all its crude nakedness. There is. oniy one action to he taken by this Government if it is to retain a shred of respect in the eyes of the public — to recall the ship to an Austraiian port for a full investigation. I now challenge the Go.vernment to appoint a Royal Lommission to find out who is responsible for this blot on our reputation." A Message reeeived from General MacArthur 's headquarters disclosed that. the transport of 948 passengers hhd been authorised in the Yoizuki. Subsequently, Austraiian authorities sought permission, to. embark 250 more at Port Moresby, but this was rejected. The. Sydney Morning Herald says that the news of General MacArthur 's order that women and children are to be immediately taken off the Yoizuki was greeted with relief in many quarters in Sydney,