ARRESTS AT TAHITI

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22469, 2 January 1943, Page 6

ARRESTS AT TAHITI

Acts Of Governor Unjustified NOUMEA, Nov. 30. Tile Official Journal of the French Colony of Tahiti publishes the following announcement by the French Pacific High Commissioner, ContreAdmiral Thierry d’Argenlieu:— “The Commissioner established to inquire and report on the accusations brought by Governor-General Brunot against Governor de Curton and his officials, as well as on the measures taken by Governor-General Brunot. has found that there was nothing in the nature of a plot, and that the measures taken by Brunot were unjustified. “In making known these conclusions to Governor de Curton and those who have been arrested, or who have been the subject of legal proceedings, the Commission makes it clear that, whoever considers he may have suffered material loss as a result of the action taken by Governor-General R. Brunot may put his case for reparations before the Comte des Contentieux. The persons interested will be notified of this decision by letter.” It was in June, 1941, that GovernorGeneral (des Colonies) Richard Brunot, Free French envoy to the Pacific, arrived in Tahiti from Noumea. Soon after his arrival, he ordered the arrests of the acting-Govemor. de Curton, an army doctor with rank of captain, his own aide-de-camp, Capitaine Fatoux, the Governor's chef de Cabinet, two colonial administrators, Messrs. Senac and Lemonnier, the local troop commander, Capitaine Ravel, a member of the Privy Council of the Colony, M. Martin, and other civilian personalities. The Papeete Municipal Council was also dismissed, and Brunot created himself acting-Govemor, which post he filled till the arrival of High Commisioner d’Argenlieu last September.