FRENCH OCEANIA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 261, 2 October 1940, Page 7

FRENCH OCEANIA.

CONTROL OF FREE FRENCHMEN

CONTACT WITH DOMINION

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oet. 1. The steps taken by the New Zealand Government to maintain contact with French’ Oceania were revealed by Rt. Hon. P. Fraser in a statement tonight. He said there was jujC truth whatever in the suggestion that French Oceania was now practically a British protectorate under the, supervision of New’ Zealand. The Prime Minister said that as a result of the recent plebiscite held in Tahiti, and the consequential change of government in French Oceania, it had been thought desirable for the New Zealand Government acting in this matter on behalf of the other Governments of the British Commonwealth to make contact with the now’ administration. “A representative of the New Zealand Government accordingly visited Papeete, when he found the new 7 Governor (M. Edmond Mansard) in office on the appointment of General de Gaulle and assisted by members of the late Governor’s Privy Council who had been largely responsible for the decision to support the Free Trench Movement,” said Mr Fraser. “The Governor and his advisers appeared to be firmly-in control of the situation and to have the support of the great bulk of the population, both French and Polynesian. Their collaboration with the New Zealand representative was most cordial, and it was possible at once to make arrangements for the repatriation to France of the late Governor and a few 7 officials with their wives and families who found themselves unable to support the new administration. , , “Opportunity was taken for detailed discussions concerning the method of collaboration betw 7 een the new 7 administration and the British Commonwealth. The matters so discussed are now the subject of consultation between His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Australia', and it is intended that the New Zealand Government, as the closest neighbour of French Oceania, should contact with that territory. The Prime Minister added that w-nat purported to be a report on this matter published, in a- northern newspaper contained a number of inaccuracies. He particularly emphasised float there was no truth whatever in the suggestion made in that report that French Oceania, was now practically a British protectorate under the supervision ot New Zealand. . . ~ , “The administration of Trench Oceania is under the authority ‘ or General cle Gaulle, and through lus appointee Governor Mansard is rieeiy and of its own desire co-opeiating with the British Commonwealth in the struggle for freedom in which we are all engaged, and is in no wav under the Supervision of New 7 Zealand or any other British Government,” the Prime Minister concluded.