Pacific Colonies

American Troops In French

Another Sequel to the Treachery of Vichy

FROM the point of view of the South Pacific Islands, troop movements of far-reaching political importance have taken place during the past four months. .

According to various official announce ments, there now are United States forces in the following South Pacific territories (counting from west to east): — In AUSTRALIA, where the Supreme Commander of the South-west Pacific war area, General MacArthur (American) has his headquarters.

In the Australian Pacific territory of PAPUA, American airmen are co operating actively w y ith the Australians.

In NEW CALEDONIA, French colony, where an American expeditionary force landed some time ago. No details.

In NEW ZEALAND. No details.

In FIJI. No details.

In EASTERN SAMOA (Pago Pago) which, of course, is American territory, and where there is a strong American naval and air base.

In FRENCH OCEANIA It was an nounced on April 30 that American forces had “occupied” Tahiti, and the groups known respectively as Marquesas, Tua motu, Leeward, Gambier, Austral and Rapa. There are no details.

Although the word “occupation” has been freely used in connection with these operations, it is explained that the American forces in the various islands, and especially the French colonies, are there entirely for defence purposes, and are taking no part in the general adminis tration.

New Caledonia and French Oceania, for instance, still are being administered by the Free French governments set up there in 1940. The Americans every where, in both British and French terri tories, have been most scrupulous in avoiding any interference with the civil administration.

The announcement of the occupation of New Caledonia by the Americans was made on April 26.

Line To Protect Communications

rE effect of the disposition of American forces, in the manner shown above, is that there is now a line of American defence extending from Australia and Papua eastward to French Oceania, and thence northwards to Hawaii, and the North American con tinent.

That defence line protects vital com munications between Australia and North America, and it will be surprising if Japan does not attempt to break it.

If the attempt is made it would represent a hazardous lengthening of Japanese communications, and a danger ous enterprise; but Japan may attempt it, rather than allow America to build up a powerful striking force in Australia with out interference.

But it is the political, rather than the military significance of these events that is interesting to us.

Vichy’S Disgraceful History

THE appearance of American troops in the South Pacific colonies of France serves only to emphasise the descreditable character of the story of Vichy France, as seen in the Pacific since June, 1940.

When France surrendered, the French colonies of Indo-China, New Caledonia, French Oceania and New Hebrides (if we include the Condominium) lay help

less —officials and colonists alike stunned by the catastrophe. That was bad enough; but the quick reaction of greedy Japan was worse. Japan, like Italy, was out to grab every possible acre of territory from a France and Holland now prostrate under the heel of the Hun.

Most of the French people in France’s Pacific colonies did not think that Britain long would survive; some officials, bitter Anglophobes, hoped to see proud Albion down in the dust with proud France.

Mean and poor of spirit, they were ready to go with Vichy and make obeisance to maniacal Schnickelgruber (which is the real name of Adolf Hitler), and submit to occupation by Japanese, rather than fight on for freedom and honour.

Three months (July, August and Sep tember of 1940) passed before the French men of the Pacific colonies would believe that Britain was capable of defying Schnickelgruber and fighting on, alone.

Meanwhile, the little men of Vichy in New Caledonia and Tahiti took adminis trative charge of those colonies on behalf of Vichy (and Schnickelgruber).

Henri Sautot

BUT not all. In mid-July, long before Britain had demonstrated her ability of resist invasion, one strong, clear, French voice arose, defying the Huns and the Huns’ Japanese friends, and calling upon all Free Frenchmen to stand beside their British Allies in this, their darkest hour.

That was the voice of Henri Sautot, French Resident Commissioner in the New Hebrides, to whom history will render homage.

Henri Sautot became the rallying point for Free France in the South Pacific. Vichy officials attacked him savagely, like angry rats caught in a trap; but practically all the French colonists, and many officials, supported him —so much so that, within a few weeks, Sautot was at Noumea as Free French Governor of the South Pacific Colonies of Free France, and a shipload of deposed Vichy officials were en route to Indo-China.

By this time Indo-China had been grabbed by 'Japan, with Vichy conni vance; and the Vichy gentlemen from New Caledonia, New Hebrides and Tahiti were able to make proper obeisance to the Son of Heaven.

To-day, what a contrast! Those men of Vichy now are the servants of con temptuous Japanese in Indo-China; but the Free French of the South Pacific colonies are fighting beside the Ameri cans and the British, with continuing and increasing pride in their flag and their destiny.

France Will Be Re Born

THERE are those who despair of the re-birth of France —who fear that the nation will be led to destruction by the Vichy traitors, and utterly dis membered in the ruin in which Europe will be involved by the degenerate Schnickelgruber.

But France cannot be destroyed. She now is controlled by cowards and pol troons, for whom there is set a bloody day of reckoning; and her politics have been the plaything of gangs and gang sters. But the soul of France is not found in the politicians, nor among the screeching mobs of the cities. France will be built again upon the love and

patriotism of thirty million country dwellers; and Britain and America will see to it that the still free colonies of France will go back into the hands of the patriots.

But, much may happen before then.

God help poor France when the Schnickel grubers are finished with it! There may come a long and terrible period of in ternal unrest and strife. During that period the colonies of Free France may elect to remain, as at present, under the protection of the Anglo-American Powers.

That is why the occupation of these South Pacific colonies by Americans is so significant. It is not likely that those French colonies will be removed from American protection until they can be restored to the protection of their mother-land.

And no one will quarrel with that arrangement. If British troops were in possession, sneering voices would arise in different countries to declare “This is the first step towards annexation by Britain” —although Britain, for half a century, has refused to annex any more territory, unless literally forced into it.

But there cannot be, and never has been, any suggestion of imperialistic am bitions on the part of United States. For one reason and another, Americans have been forced to take possession of other countries; but every one, except Philip pines, has been given protection and complete freedom —and Philippines was booked for complete freedom in 1946.

New Caledonia and Tahiti (with de pendencies) probably will remain under the protection of the Stars and Stripes for a long time —it depends upon the shape taken by the war, in its later stages. But no one is going to worry about it, except a few discredited Vichy officials. New Caledonia and Tahiti, in the interim, will be completely free — and, probably, quite happy.