UNDER SAFE CONDUCT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 December 1943, Page 4

UNDER SAFE CONDUCT

I WAHINE TAKES JAPANESE TO AUSTRALIA EXCHANGE OF NATIONALS IN PROSPECT (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. For the first time, except for hospital ships, a vessel on the New Zealand register has been employed as a safe conduct ship. This was the Wahine, which returned to New Zealand iecently after transporting certain Japanese nationals to Australia, said the Deputy Premier, Mr Nash, today. An agreement was reached shortly after the outbreak of war in the Pacific foi the reciprocal exchange of Britisn. Allied and ‘‘Japanese nationals who wished to return to their own countries. The first exchange, which included six New Zealanders, was effected at Lourenco Marques, in Portuguese East Africa, in August, 1942. The only Japanese national from New Zealand who participated in this movement was the former chancellor of the Japanese Consulate-General in Wellington. Mr Nash said there was a prospect that negotiations for a second exchange would be satisfactorily settled and that, in anticipation of that event, arrangements were made by the Government for the movement.from New Zealand to Australia of Japanese nationals detained here who wished to return to their own country. Those people would wait in the Commonwealth until such time as the exchange was definitely settled., when, togethei with other compatriots of theirs in Australia, 'they would be transported on another vessel with a safe conduct to an agreed exchange port. The Wahine, which was employed for the movement, across the Tasman, was specially marked with a Union Jack on either side and with the word “Protected” in large letters painted above the flag. The national colours were painted fore and aft' on the decks and on the sides of the ship. The date when the vessel would leave, her course and speed had been notified beforehand to Japan, which, together with other enemy governments, had given a safe conduct for the journey. The vessel was lit at night and this was one occasion when the crew were able to travel in comfort. It has to be hoped, concluded Mr Nash, that the exchange would not be long delayed and that New Zealand would soon bo able to welcome back some of the New Zealand nationals who were now in territories under Japanese control.