TREASON INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 225, 20 June 1944, Page 5

TREASON INQUIRY

Interned Australia First Members CHARGES BY CROWN tßy Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.). (Received June 19, 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 19. The arrests of members of the Australia First movement in 1942 were the direct result of information received from the security authorities in Western Australia, Mr. Dovey, K.C., told the Royal Commission today at the opening of the inquiry into the detention of 21 members of the movement The Commissioner is Mr. Justice Clyne, who has been asked to report: (1) Whether the detention of certain members of the movement was justified; (2) whether these people were given an opportunity of appealing against their detention to the proper appeals tribunal? (3) whether any of the persons concerned should receive compensation from, the Commonwealth for wrongful detention ; (4) whether further action should be taken in respect of any of the persons.

Mr. Dovey, who is assisting the Royal Commissioner, said that in the possession of Western Australian members of the movement had been found a most incriminating document, which planned sabotage and disposal of heads of the army, democratic politicians and business and church leaders. A proclamation to be signed at an armistice welcomed the Japanese as friends liberating Australia from Jewish domination and the dangers of Communism. The proclamation was accompanied by’ 20 policy speeches, and instructions to the Australian military forces to lay down their arms. A Western Australian court had subsequently established that certain Australia First members were actively engaged in treasonable practices. However, it. was only proper to say, added Mr. Dovey. that the New South Wales members of the Australia First movement did not appear to have been appraised of the intentions of the Western Australian members. “Nazi Proi>ugaiida Leader.” The originator of the Australia First movement was a wealthy Australian-born, man, William John Miles, an accountant, who had spent £4OOO yearly of .his own money to further its cause. Miles and Percy Reginald Stephenson, a Queensland Rhodes Scholar who became the New South Wales leader of the movement, were friendly with “a rather notorious person” named von Skerst, the propaganda leader of the Nazi Party in Australia. Other members of the Australia First movement named by Mr. Dovey included Mrs. Adele Pankhuret Walsh, who, with her husband, had visited Japan at the expense of the Japanese Government. On her return Mrs. Walsh wrote articles and made speeches for which she was paid by the Japanese Government. The inquiry is proceeding, and a great mass of material is expected to be presented in evidence before the Commission.