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It was not just the stuff that Australians and Americans had that won the New Guinea natives over, it was their correct behavior. The Allied soldiers, like the Australian officials and missionaries before the War, generally behaved in a correct honorable fashion. They did not steal food from he natives. Nor did they rape the omen. Violent incidents were very rare. There are also reports of mistreating women. But ghe main problem was food. Hungary Japanese soldiers seized native food. New Guinea was not a food exporting colony. It was self suffient in food, but did not produce a surplus. The natives basically practiced subsistence agriculture. There was no substantial surplus and certainly no way of feeding tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers. But this is just what Japanese occupation polices expected. It was possible in areas with developed agricultre producing food for export not for tens of heavily armed and hungary Japanese soldiers. The commanders at first ied to enfiorce a no fraternization policy. But hungary, armd soldiers were going to go after food. And if th natives resisted, they wre hot. The Allies in contrast had plenty of food thy brought their food with them. And were willing to share it with their New Guinea native vounteers and not uncommonky friendly villages. Allied soldiers were also willing to barter. And had lots to offer. There were no forced exchanges. The Allies had something else to offer--modern medicine. And hey made medical care available to the natives. This made a real diffeence in the lives of people used to shamans and whitch doctors. We even notice Allied medical personnel training natives in basic health practives.
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