Curtin University of Technology has launched an online resource and travelling exhibition focusing on the relationship between wartime Prime Minister John Curtin and the Japanese envoy to Australia, Tatsuo Kawai.<\/p>\n
Written by former ABC foreign correspondent Bob Wurth, the resource showcases the research he undertook as the 2009 John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library (JCPML) Visiting Scholar.<\/p>\n
Mr Wurth said there had always been strong interest in Australia\u2019s relationship with Japan during World War II and he hoped his research would provide an insight into this time in the nation\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
“The website and travelling exhibition point to the different ways in which the three prime ministers related to Tatsuo Kawai, Japan’s new envoy in Australia in 1941 as Japan prepared to go to war,\u201d Mr Wurth said.<\/p>\n
“Robert Menzies, Arthur Fadden and John Curtin were deeply fearful of Japan becoming embroiled in the world war.<\/p>\n
“Menzies tended to appease the Japanese, stressing\u00a0that negotiation was the way forward, while Fadden was more pragmatic and openly clashed with the new Japanese envoy.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurtin had by far the closest association\u00a0and was involved in long and frank\u00a0private discussions, which shifted from outright appeasement to strong\u00a0verbal clashes\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0new ambassador.”<\/p>\n
Curtin JCPML Manager, Lesley Wallace, said the online resource also provided fascinating information about Japanese-Australian relations post-war.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe eventual growth of the trade between the two countries post-war is covered in the web collection as is the continuing personal friendships,\u201d Ms Wallace said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe resource will be a useful tool for scholars, school students and anyone with an interest in Australian history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Wurth is the author of 1942: Australia\u2019s Greatest Peril <\/em>and Saving Australia: Curtin\u2019s Secret Peace with Japan <\/em>and his latest book, Capturing Asia<\/em>, will be published in June 2010.<\/p>\n The online resource can be found at: http:\/\/john.curtin.edu.au\/envoy\/<\/a><\/p>\n The exhibition, coordinated by the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library, will be on display at Curtin\u2019s Robertson Library from 19 November 2009 \u2013 16 February 2010.<\/p>\n