Vichy's Lies

Refuted by Former Governor of Tahiti

From Our Own Correspondent NOUMEA, March 25.

A MOST interesting statement about the adherence of French Oceania to General de Gaulle and Fighting France is made by Dr. de Curton (former Governor of French Oceania) in his recently-published book, “Tahiti, Terre Francaise Combattante.”

Dr. de Curton, in forthright terms, denounces the bad faith of the Vichy Government in accusing the British Dominions of putting pressure on Tahiti, in an endeavour to keep the French Colony in the war. He quotes “Gringoire” (January 13, 1941) as saying: “At the end of August, 1940, two Brit ish warships called at Papeete. As soon as they disembarked, they arrested the armed forces of the island and pretended to hold a referendum. The population, threatened with a blockade and other hostile measures, had no choice but that between France and England. Thus England acquired sovereignty over this French possession.”

Another pro-German Vichy paper, the “Depeche de Toulouse,” alleged that “on Papeete’s Place du Marechal Foch, the Union Jack floats to-day, instead of the Tricolour.”

Dr. de Curton points out that the population never had to choose between France and England. “When, on Sep tember 10. 1940, HMS ‘Achilles’ called at Papeete, it was to offer Australia’s and New Zealand’s full co-operation in pro visioning a country already cut off for four months from the metropolis, and to offer aid in defending an Allied country which had already decided, ten days before, without coercion, and by the overwhelming majority of 5,564 votes against 18, not to accept defeat and the German armistice.

“Britain has never claimed nor acquired any sovereignty over French Oceania,” says Dr. de Curton, “and it is the flag of France that flies there, and the laws of the French Republic that are still observed.”