06 May 1944, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Criticism is never far away from Franklin Gimson - 'the Representative of the Internees' - who is almost always being blamed by someone for something. Today he notes in his diary a rather mysterious source of discontent:

At the Chairmen's meeting {meeting of the senior elected District representatives} in the morning I was glad to be able to state that I had never given through Arthur Blackburn {a repatriated British diplomat} any report on camp conditions though the camp generally believes I have. The subject has cropped up again in connexion with a statement in a letter about an interview Blackburn has given to the "Daily Mail" saying all was well at Stanley. I hope my denial will circulate throughout the camp.

Whovever wrote that letter was well-informed: the article based on the Blackburn interview will not be published until May 24. In any case, Gimson's denial does not put the matter to rest.

Source:

Franklin Gimson, Diary, Weston House, Oxford, p. 71 (recto)