FIGHTING FRANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 42, 18 August 1942, Page 3

FIGHTING FRANCE

DOMINION'S POLICY

STATED BY MR. FRASER

In an exchange of letters between the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and Contre-Amiral Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu, member of the French National Committee (Comite National Francais), the .governing body of Fighting France, and the committee's delegate tor the Pacific, the Government of New Zealand has stated its policy in egard to the Movement of Fighting France. Mr. Fraser declared tuat it was based on the maintenance of the integrity of France and the French' Empire and their eventual restoration and complete reconstitution.

The French National Committee, of which General de Gaulle is the president, and whose seat is now in London, is regarded by the New Zealand Government as being the body governing all those Frenchmen wherever they may be, and all .French territories and possessions, who adhere to Fighting France. 1

"The New -Zealand Government," i stated Mr. Fraser, "will continue in the future as in the past to treat only with the French National Committee in regard Lo matters in which the collaboration of Fighting France is involved or required, in particular concerning thosV Frenchmen and French possessions and territories who adhere to Fighting France. The New I Zealand -Government fully' recognises I the efforts that have been, and are I now being made by Fighting France and its adherents in furtherance of the common cavtse to the end that _ the forces of aggressio. may be resisted arid enslaved peoples, including those of France, set free." PACIFIC POSSESSIONS. Mr. Fraser further declared as being of special interest to New Zealand the maintenance of the authority, of the French National Committee in all insular possessions arid territories of France in the Pacific, including French Oceania', "which territories are and shall remain French." The New Zealand Government recognised that the authority of the French National. Committee extended to all civil and military matters in such possessions. "The New Zealand Government," Mr. Fraser added, "accepts with pleasure the appointment of M. Antoine de la Tribouille as the delegate in New Zealand of the French National Committee, who in this capacity will, act in matters concerning the interests in New Zealand of Fighting France and all Frenchmen who adhere thereto. The functions that M. de la Tribouille will exercise as delegate in New Zealand will include the issue of passports and visas and other administrative and legal formalities concerning Frenchmen who adhere to Fighting France.'' /