French Interests

In The

Western Pacific

WHEN the French High Commissioner for the Western Pacific (M.Cour narie) arrived in Suva on May 1, in the French gunboat Francis Gamier, on a brief visit, he had come direct from the islands of the Wallis Group, a French possession between Fiji and Samoa.

Ever since France established a Protec torate over this group, a hundred years ago, there have been periodic disputes among the natives; and M. Cournarie apparently deemed it advisable to make a visit recently and deal with one of these local rows. Wallis and Futuna constitute a healthy and prosperous little Colony; but the group is somewhat isolated and probably sheer boredom is at the root of these troubles.

M. Cournarie was the host of the Aust ralian Minister for Territories, (Mr.

Spender) when he was in New Caledonia in mid-April.

Mr. Spender, on his way back from New Guinea, visited the British Solomons, the Condominium of the New Hebrides, and New Caledonia; but little has been said as yet about the possible significance of this extension of the Australian Minister’s tour.