“You Lie, Darlan!”

How Valiant Henri Sautot Leads Free French in the South Pacific

IT is time that someone told the delightful, inspiring story of Henri Sautot, Governor of New Cale donia, and champion of Free France in the South Pacific.

The men of Vichy capitulated to Hit ler in June, 1940. General de Gaulle defied Vichy, and called to the French Empire to fight with him, as Free France, beside Great Britain.

The French Colonies, stunned, silent under the shock of the Vichy surrender, gave no answer. It seemed that de Gaulle would fight alone.

Then, in July, 1940, from one of the smallest French outposts (Port Vila, New Hebrides), there came one small, stout voice. Henri Sautot, French Resi dent Commissioner, declared for de Gaulle and Free France.

At first, there was hesitation, equivoca tion. The “PIM” likes to remember that it received Sautot’s fiery address, printed it in French, and distributed thousands of copies in New Caledonia and French Oceania.

Then, in August and September, as it was seen that Britain was unconquered, Free France began to stir itself. In the South Pacific, West Africa, the Came roons, there was a rally to de Gaulle.

But the voice of valiant Henri Sautot led all the rest.

The pro-Vichy Governor at Noumea radioed to Port Vila, sacking Sautot.

Sautot defied him.

Free French forces stirred, asked Britain for help. Britain gave certain help. Tahiti declared for de Gaulle in August.

ON September 19, the pro-Vichy Gov ernor in New Caledonia was deposed and Henri Sautot, arriving simul taneously from Port Vila, became Free French Governor of New Caledonia and High Commissioner over New Hebrides and Tahiti.

It has not been all roses for Henri Sautot. There is a small, virulent min ority of French Fascists in New Cale donia and Tahiti, and the Free French officials have had to handle them severely.

On June 18, at a military review in Noumea, Governor Sautot outspokenly denounced the pro-German Vichy regime. Admiral Darlan, he said, had declared that France’s Pacific Colonies “were taken over by the English”. Here is M. Sautot’s answer:— “Monsieur Darlan, you are a liar. I solemnly attest, standing here before the memorial to our dead, that N. Caledonia is and will ever remain French, that the Etablissements Francais de I’Oceanie are also more than ever French, and will so remain, and that it is not the man who has delivered France bound hand and foot to Germany who can reproach us with having handed over these colonies to Britain.

Caledonians and Tahitians are not for sale, Monsieur Darlan, they are fighting pre cisely to remain French, and for that cause they are prepared to triumph or to die.”

Late in June, five pro-Vichy officials of New Caledonia, and three others, were put into an internment camp on Frey cinet Island, 'near Noumea. Early in July, in Tahiti, firm action was taken against MM. Brunet, Rene Pailloux and Roger Mille, officials who had been actively anti-de Gaulle and anti-British.

Fifth Column activity and other treach eries in French Colonies will not be tol erated by the de Gaulle regime.

Early in July, it was announced from

Vichy that Darlan and company had “deprived M. Henri Sautot of French nationality”.

“This is the greatest honour of my life,” remarked M. Sautot. It was an acknowledgment by Vichy that he was really working for the liberation of France.

General de Gaulle telegraphed to M.

Sautot: “This action has been imposed by the Gestapo on all who personify French resistance to Germany. Con gratulations on the honour due to your patriotism.”