PUBLIC AROUSED

Chronicle (Levin), 12 March 1946, Page 2

PUBLIC AROUSED

YOIZUKI DISCLOSURES SYDNEY, March 11. The Commonwealtli Government has appointed tour iuvestigators to inspect the Japauese destroyer Yoizuki at Rabaui, where she is expected to arrive late today. Developmcnts in the Yoizuki case are likely to have a iirolound eltect on the Ohiiley Government. There is no doubl that a grave mistakc has been made and the Government "s attitude in refusing to take action until after reeeipt of General MacArthur's message has shaken the coniidence of a large section of the publie. The most conmion criticlsm, even among Government supporters, is thcexpression of incredulity that Genenu MacArlhur, in Japan, should exhibit a clearer knowledge of the position than the Ministers in Australia. The lirst outbreak of publie opinion through the columns of the Press in Sydney was greeted by the Govern inent, not with an assurance that an Lnvestigation would be made, but by a Ministerial attaclc on " news-monger-ing Press barons. " By the time timi protest had become general and unioii olticials, publie bodie.s and ministers ot icligiou had joined the S£Jontaneous demonstration, the daiuage had been done. The Yoizuki had left Sydney. ' The prime'eause tor an ofiicial move was oliered when embafkation othcers, appalled at tlie conditions aboard the vessel, lialted the embarkation oi women and children while they made coutact with Canberra with a lirsthand report. They received a curt in Limation to contmue the loaeling. It seems tliat the_ oiiicials of thc Chinese Embassy were at fault in not presenting earlier the case of thc Chinese nationals, but their attitude it easily understood. In Canberra, Op position members consistiug of Liberai. and Counrty Party members, were mov ing a motion of censure against lln Government as the storm was brewing The motion coneerued such well discussed items as Ihe attitude of th Chiliey Government toward the water siders, the hau on Dutch shipping, itrefusal to hced Opposition warnings on the food situalion, and the slowness in readjusting its policy to post-war needs. The debate dragged towards a clost without any renmrkable developments. There was little in the way of spectacular oratory or revelations, and the defeat of thc motion by 41 votes to 23 could be foreseen on tlie day the debate cominenced. Overnight a mucli more serious situation developed. Deluge of Protests A flood of protests began pouring in from every source. Opposition members took new lieart and returned to tlie attack. Labour back-benchers became I outspolcen on tlie niatter, which they claimed was above party lovalties. 1 St.ill the Government refused to do j anvthing about tlie recall of tlie de- ' strover. Ministers claimed that tlie j vvliole thing had been stirred up by I the press and instaneed Australia 's ■ lack of interest. in the fate of 2700 Jap 1 anese who were recently packed aboard ja sliip of twice the tonnage of the Yoizuki. The Government stated tlmt tlie responsibilily was General .MacAr thur's alone and that all the Australiaii authoritics could do was to follow liis orders. This was t brown back in their teetli by the statement ot' General MacArthur.hiinself. The point iu this statement which carried the most teli ing bl ows was that General MacA--tliur had no knowledge that women and 'children would be carried and that, although tlie Yoizuki had been passed liv ihe dapanese as lit to acconimodate 150 repatriates, the Altied Conimand liad Jixed the capacity during its loug jouniey at 948. General MacArthur also stated that the pcrinission which was sought by tlm Australiau authoritics to take aboard an additional 250 at Port Moresby had been refused by his headquarlers. For tlie lirst time, Australians learncd that the Yoizuki had, in fact, been overcrowded by General MacArthur's standards when she left Sydney with 1005 passengers. The Government's reaction even to this is generallv considered iliadequate. The sliip was not ordered to put back, although General MacArthur had elearly placed the authority for the contrbl of her movements on Australia 's shoulders. Inst-ead, she continued the trip to" Rabaui; "where she is now to be inspected by special iuvestigators. An instance of the Government's fear of further diselosures by the i>ress is -indicated by its refusal of permission for a press plane to flv to Rabaui. This ls ammunition for the Opposition guns and it is expected that when Parliament resumes on Wednesday, the attack will be more telling than that of last week. At the moment there is not mucli sympathv for the Government.