[?] Flag Incident

In Papeete

scar Nordman and friends, fahiti, have written pro ng against an incident ►ok place at Papeete on —American Independance _ey want some publicity irdman has occupied the Consulate building since )sed down in 1948 and has vailable for the American ationed at Noumea, under jurisdiction the French area now falls, and who ffli annually. ilding itself stands on land United States in y by Quern Pomare IV iccording to Mr. Nordman, Tahiti-born, of American

parentage, but a naturalised French citizen.

It appears that the Papeete Police, acting under orders, instructed Mr Nordman to haul down the Ameri can flag from the building’s flag staff shortly after he had hoisted it at 8 am on July 4. Mr. Nordman says that local Americans were greatly put out by the incident.

It is easy to be sympathetic with them—but it is probable that the French authorities were well within their rights, although the Governor and various high officials denied all association with the incident.

Assuming that the consulate build ing is still American property, the question seems to be whether flag hoistmg rights are attached to a building, or to a person. If the latter, the matter would be of some significance if the building were occupied by an officially accredited

American Consul or Vice-Consul We know nothing more about it than what Mr. Nordman has told us. It appears, from this distance, to be a storm in a teacup. The local police seem to have be°n un necessarily officious. At the same time, it is unlikely that the French officials intended any insult to the United States. It appears to us to be a matter that could quite well have been settled, on the spot, be tween Mr. Nordman and local officials.

A large number of American flags were flown in the big city of Sydney on the Glorious Fourth—although the day our Yankee friends were celebrating was the anniversary of their “freedom from Britain.”

It is no offence to fly another nation’s flag in Australia. It could be that it is, in France or in French Territories.