d'Argenlieu Relinquishes

Commissionership Pacific Decision by French National Committee

From Our Own Correspondent

Noumea, Nov. 7.

ON. the second anniversary of his arrival in New Caledonia (Novem ber 5), as the French Pacific High Commissioner, Admiral G. Thierry d’Argenlieu announced that he was relin quishing the post.

He was a simple monk at the com mencement of World War 11. but was recalled-to the French Navy, with which he had served in World War I. When France fell, in 1940, he escaped to Eng land, after some amazing adventures,

and became closely associated with de Gaulle and the Fighting French Move ment. He received his Pacific appoint ment in August, 1941, The Admiral, who now commands Free French Naval Forces in British waters, said that his withdrawal from the Paci fic scene is the result of a decision by the French National Liberation Commit tee, which has abolished the Pacific High Commissionership, as constituted on July 9, 1941.

The office, as then established, created a new form of government in the French Pacific, which is accustomed to seeing the posts of New Caledonian Governor and Pacific High Commissioner filled by one and the same person.

The powers given to Admiral d’Argen lieu allowed him to override French Pacific Governors in New Caledonia and French Oceania, and this led to unfore seen difficulties, particularly in New Caledonia, where the powers of the Com missioner were unpopular and where the extra expense entailed was not welcome.

These difficulties reached a head in they first week of May, 1942, when Noumea, for the first time in its history, went on strike, and large numbers of the popu lation demonstrated against the sudden recall Londonwards of “Papa” Sautot, the Governor called from the New Heb rides in September. 1940, to lead the country when it rallied to General de Gaulle.

Admiral d’Argenlieu.