rm r 7 l. • NOUMEA, Nov. 21.

Decoration For Dr.

De Curton

From Our Own Correspondent rm r 7 l. • NOUMEA, Nov. 21.

E French Resistance Medal has been awarded to Dr. (Major) de Curton, who became Governor of Tahiti when French Oceania rallied to General de Gaulle in 1940.

In the middle of 1941 he was arrested after a personal quarrel with the General’s Pacific envoy, Governor General Richard Brunot, who wished to make himself Governor. Dr. de Curton was released on ?ArooS IVal - of High Commissioner d Argenheu in Tahiti. <? eneral Brunot complained that Dr. de Curton, as Governor, had not seen to it that the Tahitian people gave him and Madame Brunot a sufficiently splendid reception. y Since his return to London, the French have published a book by Dr. de Curton on French Oceania, and his good work while m the Colony has been fully re cognised. o **l . N ® w Caledonia, Governor Henri Sautot also hadr difficulties with Governor- General Brunot and his wife. One cause ?b o friCtlor l. s that Monsieur Sautot, on the ground that in 1941 the Colony had refused Madame Brunot’s u that Gqvernment House, Noumea, shouid be repainted for them stay.

Monsieur Brunot seems to have arrived in the Pacific determined, by hook or by S°?vf’ JS, ma^ e himself Governor of one of the French possessions. He tried hard to have Governor Sautot removed from Noumea, and to this end he was the first wpri lC ?^ rage v. the backstairB politics which un ? appy feature of New Cale donian life during 1941-42 fl w^pH ßo f ista T nce Medal has also been awarded to Jacques Ravet and Marcel