Usa Pacific Consul

Fiji Is Now

Diplomat Centre

Moves To Suva

The South Pacific Consulate of

the United States of America has

been established in the new Jogia

and Mistry Building in Cummings

Street, Suva.

IT will occupy the whole of the first floor; and, from that position, the United States Consul, Mr. R. G. Shakleton, will attend to United States affairs in the South Pacific Territories.

This is an interesting development because it means that America now accepts Suva, Fiji, as the diplomatic centre of the South Pacific Islands.

Several years ago, the United States Consulate in French Oceania —on the waterfront, in Papeete— was closed up; and French Oceania thenceforth was taken care of by the United States Consul who had made his headquarters in Noumea after World War 11.

This seemed to follow the decision of the Six Powers to place the head quarters of the South Pacific Com mission in Noumea—although in the view of many Suva should have been chosen.

Now, presumably, the whole American Consulate moves to Suva.

There may be a Consular Agent in Noumea.

British Representation

Up until very recently, Great Britain maintained a Consul in Papeete, but this establishment now has been closed.

It appeared to take care only of matters arising in French Oceania.

Other matters affecting Britain,, elsewhere in the South Pacific, are attended to by the Governor of Fiji, the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific at Honiara. (Solomons), or the British Consul: at Noumea (New Caledonia), whoi is a member of a firm of well- ■ known merchants.

Australian and New Zealand trade; activities penetrate deeply into all J South Pacific Territories: but,, except for a small Consulate at: Noumea neither country has? there matlC repressn^a^on anywheres *v, H < cn y£ ver ’ recen tly was announced!

J£ at phe area managers of Qantas,, ine big Australian airways company \ (wnich is Government-owned) willl in future act as official Trade Agentse for Australia. If TEAL is to con tinue its Polynesian services, thiss irade Agency plan could bea of NZ Od throu^h TEAL, on behalf!