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those from Singapore, would be transferred to another camp where they’d be housed in closed rooms and put on ‘’limited parole’’. He said he had the confirming documents here in his office but he would tear them up and rescind all arrangements if we did not end the strike. He demanded that we convince our comrades to report back to work the following
morning. He would then telegraph Melbourne and seek government approval for voluntary work. He said he had specifically called us elderly and more experienced gentlemen as he expected us, in our own interest, to do our utmost to settle matters, otherwise he would have to resort to lowering our rations and other penalties.
In short, he demanded of us Singapore people to betray our countrymen just to gain an advantage, since he did not guarantee cessation of forced labour.