Gallic Temperaments Clash In New

Caledonia

OFFICIAL information to hand from the Central Pacific indicates that there were extraordinary incidents in New Caledonia late in April and early in May, when, as reported from Washington on May 22, an armed clash was averted only narrowly between the Governor of New Caledonia. M. Henri Sautot, and the High Commissioner for Free France in the Pacific, Rear-Admiral Thierry d’Argenlieu.

The status of Free France in New Caledonia is not affected—both men are staunch adherents of General de Gaulle.

Their quarrel was the result of personal and temperamental differences. .

It is quite clear that the High Commissioner finally ordered the arrest and expulsion of the Governor; and he was arrested and expelled. He went to New Zealand early in May. and thence proceeded to the United States, en route to see General de Gaulle in London.

As might have been expected, the reaction of the New Caledonian French was quick and sharp. The bluff, hearty and courageous Sautot was well known to them, and well trusted—did they not defy all Vichy officialdom in Noumea in September, 1940, and the guns of the Vichy warship, and Colonel Denis’s soldiers, in order that they might bring Sautot from New Hebrides to be their Governor?

They remembered how Sautot came alone from Port Vila to Noumea, on a neutral ship, carrying the flag of Free France, and not knowing whether he

would be welcomed, or would be shot immediately by Denis’s soldiers, And they did not know the newcomer, Rear-Admiral d’Argenlieu, reputed to be a most gallant officer, but austere and aloof, who had dismissed their well beloved Sautot.

Public anger mounted, and finally the people took extreme action. Exactly what occurred has not been reported; but it is known that, in the early part of May, Rear-Admiral d’Argenlieu was under “house arrest” in the central part of New Caledonia, and that he had been obliged to sign an undertaking that he and his staff would depart, at an early date, from New Caledonia, Although it was a purely domestic quarrel between Free French officials, or factions, the circumstances caused em barrassment to the commander of the American forces in the Colony. It was at this stage, as reported in the news papers in May, that Washington "appealed to General de Gaulle to iron out the affair for the sake of the com mon cause”.

By mid-May, Rear-Admiral d’Argen lieu had departed from New Caledonia for a destination unknown. Since then, the Colony seems to have been tranquil, By decree dated May 5, and published in the Noumea newspaper on May 20, the High Commissioner announced that during the absence of the Governor, M.

Bourgeau (Secretary-General for New Caledonia and Dependencies) would carry out the duties of Governor.