ARMAMENTS ISLAND

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22570, 28 November 1938, Page 8

ARMAMENTS ISLAND

New Caledonia’s Future

(SPECIAIXT WHITTEN TOR THE PRESS.) IBy ARTHUR MILLER]

In their quest for precious metals, Spanish conquistadofes looted mighty empires, created a New Spain that stretched from Mexico to Chile, and financed an Armada to conquer England. To-day, another great maritime Power scours the world, not for gold and silver, but for base metals and discarded scrap; at all costs Japan’s blast furnaces must be supplied with raw materials. Baulked in attempts to ship ore from Yampi Sound* Japanese concessionaires are not overlooking New Caledonia’s rich and untapped deposits. •Vast Mineral Wealth Formerly a gigantic prison, this long, mountainous island has become France’s most valuable colony in the Pacific, on account of nickel and chrome, two metals invaluable in modern industry, and essential in armaments. New Caledonian ores have played their part in creating the Maginot Line and France’s post-war navyi’ Nickel is used in the manufacture of small arms ammunition and shells, while chrome strengthens both armourplate and armour-pierc-ing - shells. Some idea of the importance of nickel can be gained from the fact that Germany regards her coinage as a w r ar reserve—3ooo tons may be withdrawn from circulation and replaced within a week. Since France owns the famous Lorraine iron mines, she has never troubled to develop the' 20,000,000 metric tons of high-grade ironstone in her remote South Sea colony. But in nickel production, New Caledonia ranks second to Canada, while chromite exports have soared above the 1935 figure of 73,000 tons. , On the other hand, the Japanese output of nickel is negligible, and her chromite production one-eighth of New Caledonia’s total. So Tokyo’s interest in mining is not cdhfined to iron ore. • Strategic Importance of Noumea More than a quarter the size of Tasmania, this healthy, sub-tropical island is by no means overcrowded, there are 17,000 whites, 11,000 coolies from Indo-China and Java, and about 26,000 Kanakas who live in special resei’vations. Noumea has a fine deepwater harbour, and is a naval base of great potential value. An , enemy squadron based oh Noumea would menace Australian and New Zealand communications with North America, Panama, and Singapore (Torres Straits traffic only). Significantly enough, Napoleon 111 annexed the island because of its favourable strategic position, just as he seized Dakar, on the west coast of Africa, flanking the Cape route. Tahiti had been taken by -his predecessor, but the third and last Buonaparte wanted a harbour closer to Australia’ and Singapore. But France expanded in North Airica and Indo-China. Algeria and Tunis welcomed settlers who might have found their way to New Caledonia had not Africa been so handy. Few dared to settle in a distant colony populated largely by cannibals and convicts. In 1878, the Kanakas went on the War path. Two hundred whites were murdered and many farmhouses burnt before Atai, a hunchbacked dwarf, was killed, together with at least 1000 of his warriors. The French troops were assisted by Kanala tribesmen, eager to slay their enemies from the ranges. Journalists and escapees gave “La Nouvelle” a ghastly reputation. During the Great War, peasants barred their doors at night if a New Caledonian detachment was billeted in their village, fearful lest the offspring of murderers and maneaters should prowl in the darkness. 1

Industrial Development Retarded This ill-deserved reputation has handicapped the island. Even without minerals, New Caledonia has great possibilities. Cotton, coffee, sugar, and tobacco are grown, cattle do well on the west coast, and there is room for 100,000 Japanese settlers An even greater treasure lies under the soil. In addition to nickel and chromite, there are extensive deposits of manganese,' cobalt, silver-lead, zinc, gold, and coal As far back as 1897, traces of oil were found along the north-east coast. The 1910 Australian tariff killed the manganese industry. French mining laws hamstring foreign investors. Yet it seems unlikely that French capital will ever develop the island’s mineral resources, at least not until the day that Paris realises that spending money in French colonies is a better policy than investing surplus capital in European countries. The growth of nationalism in North Africa threatens Algeria and Tunis no less than Morocco, so some settlers may seek a land more remote from Italian Libya. Unsettled European conditions are driving migrants to Australia, so perhaps there will be a trickle to New Caledonia, too. Possibilities for Settlement New Caledonia has quite enough shopkeepers and government employees. But there is room for planter* and settlers. By encouraging white immigration, France would be making her colony less vulnerable as well as helping-to develop a rather neglected asset Japanese miilitarists believe i that both Britain and France are “slipping,”- while the steady stream of munitions reaching - China through Indo-China may give her an excuse to invade that colony during or immediately after the present struggle with General Chiang Kai-shek. That France fears such action is shown by her plans to turn Camn Ranh Bay into a strong naval base, by her occupation of the Paracel group in recent months, and by a steady increase in the armed forces guarding her Eastern possessions. If Indo-China is threatened by invasion, what of isolated New Caledonia? Australians are encouraged by newspaper stories of Singapore’e great strength, yet warned that the restoration of New, Guinea to Germany would be a major disaster. But the Risen Sun over New Caledonia would be infinitely more dangerous than the Swastika over eastern New Guinea. Although her fleet is expanding rapidly, Germany is not a major sea-power. Japan ranks next to Britain and the United States, Obviously the seizure of Noumea by a Japanese expedition- _ ary force would greatly diminish Singapore’s value to Australia and New Zealand. There would be a fortified stronghold within 900 miles of Brisbane. The Pacific scene would change overnight: Noumea is closer to Auckland than Auckland is to Sydney. Tutuila (American Samoa) and Suva would be within easy range of raiding cruisers. Such a state of affairs is neither fantastic nor improbable. Japan’s Ambitions New Caledonia has minerals that warring Japan needs. Should the Japanese succeed in imposing peace upon Nationalist China, their need for metals will not diminish; the conquest of China is simply a stepping-stone towards the over-running of Eastern Asia. On the other hand, stalemate in China might suggest a diversion, not against Britain or the U.S.SJL, but' against Indo-China and the French Pacific possessions.

America’s Pacific “axis” (Dutch Harbour, Pearl Harbour —Tptuila) could be outflanked by a Japanese “axis” running from Jaluit, in the mandated islands close to the equator, through Noumea to Tahiti. European dictators have gambled for huge stakes and won. Japan’s bold bid for Asiatic supremacy shows that the dictators are not alone in the game.

A NEGLECTED PACIFIC COLONY