PLAN TO OCCUPY N.Z.

Chronicle (Levin), 16 July 1948, Page 5

PLAN TO OCCUPY N.Z.

Press Association)

T Hovy Japanese Intended To Subject The People

(Per

WELLINGTON, July 16; Upited States Aimy intelligence teams operating in Japan have discovefed documentary evidence that the Japanese did intend to invade and occupy New* Zealand, and that they did have a plan for the subjeqtion of the Nev^ Zealahd people. This is revealed in a statement released today by the Prime Minister's Department. The evidence is not drawn from the Japanese ofQcial war records since the bulk of these were destroyed before the Allies entered Japan. Questiqning of Japanese pfficers revealed that operations were contemplated in the Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and -New Caledonia regions. Plans for the management of these territories were published in Japan by Kokusaku Kenkyu Kai, the unofficial Government agency, in December, 1941. The document contemplated total Japanese rule over every aspect of New Zealand life. One. extract stated: "When Japan completely occupies the southern regions as a result of the present great East Asia war, Japan will be in a position to decide all matters concerning the type of sovereignty, politics, culture and economy for those regions according to her own desire." New Zeajand's resources were to be devoted to the service of the Japanese Empire and her economy was to be tailored to suit Japan. The document said: "In order to ensure the existence of the Japanese Empire and that national defence of a high aegree be built up, the development of the available natural resources of those various regi .ins by their inhabitants under our leadership is a thing to be obtained. Plans jmust quickly * be made for the industrial reorganisation of I the whole co-prosperity sphere and | also in particular a counter-plan is | necessary for a cut jn the production of such natural resources as are considered to be in overproduction to the demand of the co-prospe^ity sphere." Although self -government for internal affairs was gradually to be granted to each country, Japan was to exercise control through some special organisation over defence and foreign affairs. The regions to be under jurisdiction of the "N.ew Zealand Government General" included the Macquarie Islands and the entire sea in the South Pole region. i '