Questions
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Sautot Asks
About Millions
THERE are many people who would like the strange political events in New Caledonia, in 1940-42, to be for gotten; but staunch old Henri Sautot keeps stirring them up, and asking questions.
Sautot, then Resident Commissioner in the New Hebrides, was the first high official of Colonial France to declare for De Gaulle in the black days of 1940. Soon after, with Australian help, he became Governor of New Caledonia, and he did a splendid job there in co-operation with the Americans.
Then came the former monk, the mysterious Thierry D’Argenlieu, to be come French High Commissioner in the Pacific. He and Sautot clashed, and he succeeded in getting Sautot, virtually under arrest, shipped away to an African governorship.
After that, to use an American phrase, D’Argenlieu “really went to town.” A lot of very queer things happened, before D’Argenlieu returned to Europe—to be come head of the Free French Navy, and eventually to return to his monastery, “Papa” Sautot, now rethed, is back in Noumea as a private citizen, and he keeps on demanding information about the D’Argenlieu regime. He asks, for in stance, what became of the 1,300,000 American dollars, which D’Argenlieu found in the coffers of the Immigration Department in London early in 1942. No one seems able to answer.
Another matter that Sautot asks questions about is an alleged gift of nearly one million francs by D’Argen lieu to two of his cronies— a matter which was severely commented upon a couple of years later by Governor Tallec.
Tallec said that these two men “made a profit out of France’s misery”; and now Sautot is again pressing the matter upon the notice of the public.—Own Corres pondent.