16 Aug 1944, John Charter's wartime journal

The Japanese Military Authorities are evidently keen that a friendly spirit be fostered between the Japanese and the internees here. Gimson has been invited twice to dinner and bridge with the Colonel during his visits to camp; no Formosan guard may now slap an internee (there had been a good number of face slappings recently) – all face slapping will be done ‘up the hill’! In many ways they have proved more helpful than the Civil Authorities: they have allowed lights to be used before 8.00 p.m. for concerts, though throughout the Colony no lights can be used before that time; they have accelerated the delivery of parcels; I cant think of any more things at the moment - oh yes, they have agreed to meet the Chairmen of the District Blocks Committees on 1st and 15th of every month, which is a good thing. (The first meeting which should have been held yesterday was postponed!) Of course, these Military Authorities can do things which the smaller fry civilians would not have dared to do. One big fly in the ointment is that rations seem to be growing steadily worse!