Tahiti Mystery Explained
pp. 10-11 · Read in the full issue
The Extraordinary Conduct of Governor-General Brunot in 1941
ON September 9 there was published Officially in Papeete a radiogram from Rear-Admiral d’Argenlieu (High Commissioner in the Pacific for Fighting France), which finally explained the Brunot-de Curton mystery, and put an end to an extraordinary situation connected with the Governorship of Oceania, in 1941.
The publication clears all cloud and blemish from the names and careers of the former Governor, Dr. de Curton, and his associates, and places the blame for the series of strange events upon the former Governor-General, Richard Brunot.
To describe what happened, it is neces sary to recapitulate tne events of 1940 and 1941.
France surrendered in June, 1940, and the French South Pacific territories of New Caledonia, French Oceania and New Hebrides were left stunned, isolated and unprotected. The Governors, and most of their chief assistants in New Caledonia and Tahiti, tried to adhere to the Ger man-controlled Vichy Government which was, from the point of view of British countries in the Pacific, an impossible situation.
In July, Henri Sautot, French Resident Commissioner in the New Hebrides, declared unequivocally for General de Gaulle and Fighting France, and for continuance of the war, beside Britain.
In September, the civil population of both New Caledonia and French Oceania voted overwhelmingly for de Gaulle, and dethroned their pro-Vichy Governors.
New Caledonia called Sautot to the post of Governor and High Commissioner for France in the Pacific; while the leading civilians of Papeete installed Edmond Mansard (a retired French military offi cer, who died a few weeks ago) as Gov ernor of French Oceania.
M. Mansard did not hold the position long. He retired voluntarily in October, 1940, and, at his wish, and the wish of all leading citizens and officials of French Oceania, the highly-respected Dr. de Cur ton was made Governor. He settled very satisfactorily into the difficult job.
EARLY in 1941, General de Gaulle sent Commander Richard Brunot into the Pacific, with the title of “Gov ernor-General.” He proceeded, via Auck land, to Noumea, where, although he evi dently superseded M. Sautot’s authority as High Commissioner (Sautot remaining Governor of New Caledonia) he seemed to get along harmoniously with the people and officials there.
Then, with his wife and suite, “Gov ernor-General” Brunot proceeded to French Oceania, arriving in Papeete on June 6, 1941. Soon afterwards, people in the Western Pacific learned with amaze ment that M. Brunot had arrested and imprisoned Governor de Curton, most of de Curton’s chief officials, and even Captain Fatoux (who had come into the Pacific with Brunot as Brunot’s aide).
THIS is how our Papeete. correspondent describes these extraordinary events: “Le Gouyerneur-General Richard Bru not, ancien Commissaire de la Republic Francaise au Cameroun, arrived at Papeete on June 6, 1941, on board the SS ‘Monterey.’ He was received with full military honours by the Governor of French Oceania, Dr. de Curton.
“It soon became known that the man
ner of his reception had aroused Gover nor-General Brunot’s deep displeasure.
Whether he had expected the august ceremonies of a Roman Triumph or (as a wag suggested) the even more spectacu lar saturnalia that accompanies the advent of a sultan of the Cameroon hinterland, no one seemed to know.
“Monsieur Brunot later made some speeches, full of ominous phrases. Then, to the amazement of the Colony, he announced that he had assumed the Gov ernship of French Oceania.
“A perusal of the ‘Journal Official’ of June 30 and July 31. 1941, will inform those interested of some of the events which followed.
“The Hotel Metropole (which imme diately became known as ‘The Bastille’) was taken over, and soon became crowded with people who had not the foggiest notion of why they were confined there. High officials who had incurred M. Brunot’s displeasure were sent to Moorea (an island not far from Tahiti).
“The door of Government House, dur ing this period, resembled the famous Lion’s Mouth of the ancient Venetian Council of Teno: people, nursing ven dettas, stealthily went there to denounce their enemies. Later, the wind of favour shifted and some of these haunters of the palace gate found themselves either in the ‘Bastille’ or under surveillance in their homes.”
COPIES of the “Journal Officiel des Etablissements Franca is de I’Oceanie,” of June 30 and July 31, 1941, are now in the possession of the “PIM.” They really are astonishing documents. Each sets out in detail the decisions and acts of the Government during June and July.
From June 1 until June 13, all Gov ernmental decrees were signed by M.
Lemonnier, who had temporarily replaced M. Brunet, Chief of Cabinet, who had resigned. Governor de Curton appears already to have been in eclipse. Then came a notable series of decisions.
On June 16, M. Brunot issued decrees in which he provisionally appointed him self Governor of French Oceania, and M.
Joseph Giovanelli to be Chief of Cabinet (or Government Secretary). Captain Anthony Doucet was appointed Army Commandant; M. Alcide Faugerat became Secretary-General of the Colony; and a number of minor appointments were made. A decree of June 27 dissolved the Papeete Town Council; and another decree, of the same date, set up a Com mission of 11 members, headed by M.
Leonce Brault, to run the Municipality.
All these decrees were signed by Brunot himself.
On the same day (June 16) that he appointed himself Governor, Brunot signed a series of eleven decrees, under which he authorised and ordered: — The arrest of Dr. de Curton (Governor) and MM Senac and Lemmonnier (Colo nial administrators), M. Delage (aide to the Governor), Captain Ravet (local troops commander), Captain Patoux (Brunot’s own aide), and M. Dedeyne.
The internment during the war of M.
Mano, Dr. Mayrac, MM Petard, Pujo, Rosmorduc, Mille, Foucard, Fagot, Loison, Senesse, Drouhet, Le Roux (most of whom were medical officials) and a number of other officials.
There were 30 other decrees, all more or less connected with the “Brunot revolution.”
MANY explanations of Richard Bru not’s extraordinary conduct have been offered, but none seems to suffice.
Our Noumea correspondent says; “The version of events generally accepted in Noumea is that Dr. de Curton, who had been elected Governor by vote of the population, was arrested and suspended by Governor-General Brunot after a per sonal quarrel, in which the doctor was accused of not having arranged a suffi ciently lavish welcome for the distin guished visitor and Madame Brunot.
Monsieur Brunot is regarded as having been anxious to become Governor of a Pacific Colony. At the time of the armis tice with Germany, he was Governor- General of the Cameroons, which rallied to General de Gaulle two months later.”
The situation in Tahiti during June, July, August and September was tense and somewhat dangerous: but the people had an assurance from General de Gaulle that it would be dealt with quickly, and they remained calm.
It was announced in London on August
When Rear-Admiral d’Argenlieu arrived in Papeete in September, 1941, he was accorded an official reception. This photograph shows d’Argenlieu (in white) walking with Brunot (dark jacket). Over d’Argenlieu’s shoulder is seen the head of Colonel Orselli (new Governor of Tahiti).
Other high officers, in white, are in the left half of the photograph.
7, 1941, that Captain Thierry d’Argenlieu had been appointed High Commissioner for Fighting France in the Pacific. At that time, the extraordinary events in Tahiti were not generally known, and the announcement about Captain d’Argenlieu caused much surprise.
Captain d’Argenlieu was given the rank of Rear-Admiral and unlimited author ity: and he was asked to proceed imme diately from North America to Tahiti.
He arrived in Papeete on September 23, 1941, and at once took charge of the situation. The administration of Richard Brunot was suspended, pending an inquiry; the arrested and interned men were "released on parole, pending an inquiry; and, soon afterwards, Lieut.- Colonel Georges Orselli was appointed Governor.
An official inquiry took place; and this is the result of same, as announced by the High Commissioner (Rear-Admiral d’Argenlieu):— “The Commission established to inquire and report on the accusation brought by Governor-General Brunot against Gov ernor de Curton and his officials, as well as on the measures taken by Governor- General Brunot, has found that there was nothing in the nature of a plot, and that the measures taken (by Brunot) were unjustified.
“In making known these conclusions to Governor de Curton, and to those who have been arrested or who have been the object of legal proceedings, the Commis sion makes it clear that whoever con siders he may have suffered material loss as a result of the action taken by Gov ernor-General A. Brunot may put his case for reparations before the Comite du Contentieux, which was created by Ordonnance No. 25 of March 13, 1942.
The persons interested will be notified of this decision by letter.”
Which means, in so many words, that the officials concerned have been found not guilty of any misdemeanour and that the Government is prepared to consider any claim they may make for wrongful arrest and detention.
WE return to the account written by our Tahiti correspondent:— “This regrettable incident in the his tory of the Colony came immediately to an end when Admiral d’Argenlieu arrived.
“It was only an incident. In common with all who have lived in the islands for years, I am gratified that the islands are to remain French. The broad toler ance and the true spirit of equality that temper French rule, adapt it more to the Polynesian than any sovereignty I know.
Whatever mistakes may have been made have been due to the intrusion of ele ments in our civilisation which now are being tried by fire in the crucible of war.
“To-day, there is no community on earth so fortunate as are these islands of French Oceania. We have been well pro tected and cared for by the United Nations, our colonial administration is ably conducted, and, in the opinion of this writer, anyone who presumes to cavil at minor deprivations is so lacking in sportsmanship that he would be a fly in the fragrant ointment of Utopia itself.”
Word has been received from Lance - Bombardier Archie Mclntyre (only son of the late Captain and Mrs. Mclntyre, of Port Moresby) from the Middle East. He was among those who enlisted at Port shortly after the declaration of war, and, after a short period of training, he was in one of the early drafts for overseas.
At the time of writing he was well.