PM Transcripts

OR PRESS, P. M. 2o/ 1963
FURTHER PAYMENT OF œ 16.10.0 TO FOR~ MER PRISONERS
OF WAR OF THE JAPANESE
Statement by the-Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Menzie õ
The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies today
announced that a final payment of V16.10.0 each would be paid
to former Australian prisoners of war of the Japanese from the
proceeds of realisation of Japanese assets in accordance with
the Peace Treaty with Japan.
In 1952, the Government decided that the proceeds
of realisation of Japanese assets in Australia should be
distributed equally among former prisoners of war of the Japanese,
and a distribution of œ-32 was made, During 1955, the Japanese
Government, in settlement of its obligations under Article 16
of the Peace Treaty paid the sum of Iv sterling to the
International Commi~ tee of the Red Cross in Geneva. Australials
share of these moneys together with the proceeds of the sale of
the Burma-Siam railway and minor amounts from other sources
enabled a second distribution of œ C54 to each ex-prisoner of war
to be made in 1956-7.
A further and final payment has now been received
from the International Committee of the Red Cross and we have
decided that this together with the remainder of the moneys
expected to become available from the realisation of Japanese
assets in Australia, should also be distributed equally between
former prisoners of war, The amount of this distribution will
be œ 16.10.0 per person.
As in the case of former distributions, where a.
prisoner of war has died, either during captivity or since his
release, payment will be made to a dependant or where there is
no dependant to such other person as is entitled toit because
of a particular relationship with the deceased.
A letter containing particulars regarding payment
and a form for completion and return will be sent to the last
recorded address of persons who shared in the previous
distributions or to any new address as may be notified to the
appropriate service Department, Those who have not participated
in previous distributions but consider themselves eligible to
share in the current distribution should contact the relevant
service Department. It is hoped that most of the payments will be made
before Christmas 1963, but this will be possible only if forms
are completed ani returned promptly.
CANBERRA, November, 1963.