No Metals For Japan

Decision in N. Caledonia

PASSENGERS who arrived in Auckland from Noumea on March 1 stated that the Government of New Cale donia had placed a complete prohibition on the export of metals to Japan, and four Japanese vessels, which recently arrived at Noumea for ore, were waiting there, unable to load.

New Caledonian interests are seriously concerned at the economic effect of this embargo. A ready market has been found for all the chrome ore produced, but all the nickel ore has not yet been sold — although hopes are entertained of dis posing of it to the United States. It now is necessary to find a new market also for the iron ore.

Representatives of New Caledonian interests have arrived in Australia to deal with this situation, and it is possible that they will proceed to the United States.

Mr. Kuroki. who opened a consulate for Japan at Noumea about a year ago, has been recalled to Japan and has left New Caledonia by flying boat. His suc cessor in the Noumea consulate, Mr.

Yamashita, has already arrived there and has taken charge of affairs on behalf of Japan.

One of Mr. Yamashita’s first official acts was to place a wreath on the Nou mea war memorial. Many returned sol diers refused to attend, but a few French and about 200 Japanese were present.

Part-Japanese Co.

There has been formed in Noumea a company which calls itself “Societe Gen erale Sud Pacifique”—a limited company with 50,000 francs capital.

Its object is to generally control all operations concerned either directly or indirectly with the buying and selling, importing or exporting of all merchan dise, all arrangements regarding com mission, representation, brokerage, and in a general sense all commercial opera tions, whether of an agricultural, indus trial or financial nature, or otherwise.

Directors are: Alfred Richard Lomont, of Noumea; Paul Baumier, of Noumea;

Shojiro Omo, of Japan; and Kenchi Kashima, of Noumea. The joint mana gers are Tokiya Taniguchi and Charles Mennesson, both of Noumea.