Freedom For Fighting

French Guarantee Given by New Zealand

From Our Noumea Correspondent THE economic position of French Oceania became very difficult after France capitulated in June, 1940, and New Zealand, as the nearest British Dominion, gave Tahiti and its outlying dependencies all possible help. Conse quently, there developed a considerable measure of economic collaboration be tween New Zealand and French Oceania Enemy propagandists have tried to alarm French people by declaring that Britain plans interference with their independ ence.

As a result of this, the New Zealand Government has defined its policy towards the Fighting French in an exchange of letters between the Prime Minister Mr Peter Fraser, and the French Pacific High Commissioner.

Mr. Fraser declares that the policy of New Zealand is based on the maintenance of the integrity of France and the French Empire intact. He considers the French National Committee, of which General de Gaulle is President, as the official Gov ernment of Frenchmen wherever they may be. The Government of the Dominion will continue in the future, as in the past, to treat with the National Committee in all questions concerning collaboration with Fighting France and, in particular, with French colonial territories and possessions.

Recognition is given to the efforts that have been and are being made by Fight ing France and her adherents for the common cause against aggression, and for the liberation of peoples now subjected to slavery.

Mr. Fraser also declares that it is a matter of “special interest to New Zea land" that the authority of the French National Committee must be maintained over all French territories in the Pacific, including French Oceania, “the which territories are and must remain French.’’

The New Zealand Government recog nises that the authority of the National Committee extends to all civil and mili tary questions in these possessions. Mr.

Fraser adds that his Government wel comes the appointment of M. Antoine de la Tribouille as delegate of the French National Committee in New Zealand. He will handle all matters of common in terest and will look after the interests of Free Frenchmen in the Dominion.

Mr. R. J. Keegan, an administrative officer in the service of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, has been spend ing furlough in Australia. He was sta tioned in Tarawa for some time, but in 1941 he was placed in charge of Fanning Island; and, when the Japanese attack came, he was “out on the end of a bough.” Nothing worthy of mention happened at Panning Island, however; and Mr. Keegan left there, after the Battles of the Coral Sea and of Midway Island had made the Central Pacific a little safer for our isolated British com munities. Mr. Keegan sent his wife and child away from Fanning Island in November, by a small ship which was connected with the cable service: and the Japanese blitz on Pearl Harbour and Honolulu commenced just as the little vessel was entering Honolulu on the morning of December 7 last. Mrs. Kee gan came safelv through the bombing, and then remained several months in Hawaii before coming to Australia to meet her husband.