France’S Fateful Decision Soon
p. 21 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
NOUMEA, September 1.
Not only the people of Metro politan France, hut also all the qualified electors of all the French Territories—which include the Terri tories of New Caledonia and French Polynesia—will vote in the referen dum, this month, on whether the new Constitution proposed hy Prime Minister de Gaulle will he accepted.
THE New Caledonia political party (generally Leftist) led by M.
Maurice Lenormand has decided to vote in favour of the new Con stitution. This means practically a unanimous vote for De Gaulle in
New Caledonia, as the Opposition P art y (generally Rightest) will, of course, support De Gaulle.
It is announced that the vote will be taken on September 25.
The voting procedure will be very simple. The voter will be handed two voting papers bearing the words ‘Do you approve of the Constitution proposed by the Government of the Republic?” On one voting paper is the word “Oui”—on the other, the word “Non”. The voter places in the ballot-box the one which carries the answer he favours, French officialdom believes that this method will cause the least possible confusion.