PEOPLE UNSETTLED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21192, 15 August 1940, Page 13

PEOPLE UNSETTLED

FEELING IN TAHITI BRITAIN AND FRANCE WARSHIP IN PORT (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Wednesday Two Auckland businessmen, Messrs A. W. Donald and J. B. Grove, returned by the Mariposa today from Tahiti, where they carried on discussions with bankers and merchants in Tahiti with a view to enabling New Zealand to continue to trade with the island in spite of the changed international situation. Mr Donald said the bank at Tahiti, the Bank of Indo-China, the head office of which was in Paris, would make a certain amount of credit ' available in Australia and New Zeaj land, but it was limited and avail- ! able only for the most essential imports, such as flour and meat. In addition the exporter from Australia or New Zealand had to obtain a permit from the Tahiti Government. Uncertain Situation Other passengers by the Mariposa gave news of an unsettled situation in Tahiti, which is a French possession. Some thought that most people favoured Britain, others thought the most influential section of the population leaned toward the Petain Government. Several said there was a somewhat strained situation between the Governor, whose views had changed considerably, and the commander of a French warship which was in port. The warship was believed to be the sloop Dumont D’Urville, which visited New Zealand last year. American Protection In some quarters on the island there was a wish that the United States should take over protection of the island until the end of the war, one passenger said, and he understood the question of American relations had been raised in Washington. However, other residents felt a more discreet policy should be followed lest Japan should raise objections to American intervention. In addition to the French warship, a freighter, believed to be the 6975-ton Messageries Maritimes steamer Vilie d’Amiens, was also in port at Papeete. They had been informed that the crew had been without pay for a considerable time and had declined to move the vessel from the wharf to allow the Matson liner to berth. Consequently the steamer had been moved by the crew of the naval ship, while a machine-gun was mounted on the wharf.