2 Jul 1944, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

Fine, hot.

Work on wall.

Joint protest being signed by all adult internees. It deals with all the Camp problems that are becoming more acute daily, poor food, lack of drugs & medicines, the increase of diseases caused through malnutrition, the inadequacy of canteen supplies & money. It points out that for 100yrs Japan has had a name for treating her war prs. decently & that in this case she has let herself down badly. Let’s hope something comes of it.

At the moment I have about Y27 but cannot buy anything with it due to Canteen routine & lack of supplies, no soap, salt, sugar or oil.

Eating (what little there is) is a bleak affair, rice & soup every meal & all as tasteless as whitewash. The majority of internees are similarly situated of course. Why can we not be allowed the treatment accorded to the Internees in Shanghai? it seems they have adequate supplies & regular Red Cross parcels besides. If a neutral vessel was allowed to call here with supplies once per month the majority of the ire raising problems & bitterness would be eliminated. To think that we shall appreciate life & its little blessings all the more when we are  free again is really poor consolation for an empty tummy & a none too clean body that is liable at any time to contract any of the many diseases due to malnutrition. Heaven help any Japs I get charge of if ever.

Indian Guard (ex HK Police) saw Perdue re pension, said war would soon be over.

With Steve pm.

(Turkey assumes state of emergency and mans border posts?)