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FAR EAST: TRANSPORT FOR FORCES NOW DUE FOR RELEASE OR LEAVE

(Previous Reference:

C.M.(45) 28th Concs.. Minute 3(iv))

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR said he had asked the Defence Committee to consider this problem as he was much disturbed with the numbers of men accumulating in India who were due for repatriation to the United Kingdom. A decision had been made by his predecessor in the Coalition Government to lower the PYTHON qualification period from three years eight months to three years four months. Owing to this decision, and to various operational factors governing the use of shipping in S.E.A.C. before the Japanese surrender, the numbers of men awaiting repatriation in India were assuming large proportions. At present 18,000 men were in the ports of India awaiting transfer and there were additional large numbers scattered throughout India who had not yet been brought to the ports owing to internal communication difficulties. Altogether there were 45,000 men involved and he was apprehensive that unless these numbers were cleared rapidly, there would be repercussions on the rate of releases in the demobilisation scheme. He assumed it would be the wish of the Government to adhere to their promise that releases should be made in turn. Unless everything possible was done to repatriate these men quickly, there was a likelihood of men being released out of turn and of creating considerable discontent amongst the forces in the Far East.

MAJOR GENERAL HOLMES gave the Committee detailed figures of the various classes of the 45,000 men awaiting repatriation. He thought it would be possible to place shipping allocations for 39,300 men which almost met requirement of those in immediate need of repatriation. On the other hand, it had only been found possible to move 18,000 men to the ports owing to communication and accommodation difficulties. It was impossible to forecast the amount of shipping which could be placed at India's disposal for the rest of the year, but an overall shipping review was under preparation by the Chiefs of Staff Committee for submission to the Defence Committee, and if the Government decided that the necessary priorities could be given to the move of men under the PYTHON and release schemes, it would be possible to meet India's needs for the remainder of the year. On the other hand, a decision to accord PYTHON and release personnel priority for shipping would cut across Dominion allocations..

The shipping position in January and February next year would be easier than it was now. At present the Air Force had agreed to transport 10,000 personnel per month from India and he asked if, in view of the very stringent shipping position in October and November, the Air Force ❤ould increase this allocation to 12,000 per month.

THE MINISTER OF WAR TRANSPORT explained that the present joint shipping allocations were based on decisions taken at Potsdam during the war with Japan; and thus primarily catered for the need to redeploy American and Allied armed forces from the European theatre to the Pacific. The shipping allocation plan needed urgent revision in conjunction with America in order to decide a more equitable distribution of resources to our own, American and Canadian needs.

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