New Hebrides

[?]our Starts Something!

New Hebrides Takeover Denied

[Prom Fred Dunn, in Noumea

February 18.

outy Maurice Lenormand told sion of the Territory Assembly this week of a rumour that was g the rounds” of Paris. Accord tto the rumour, France was iating to cede her rights in the Hebrides to the other partner .e Condominium, Britain, in re for Britain’s ceding to France African territory of British bier. Britain would then cede \istralia all sovereignty over the Hebrides.

S report of the rumour raised omething of a storm. Members f the Assembly indicated they 3 protest violently against the if it were true. The Governor few Caledonia, Mr. Pechoux, ed France about the position. e Minister in Charge of Over- Territories, Mr. Jacques telle, replied asking Mr. Pechoux iform the populations of both New Hebrides and New Sonia that there was absolutely .ruth in the rumour. He said question of ceding rights in the Hebrides had never been dis >d and never would be with power.

Pechoux made a short radio ;h in Noumea, denouncing the Dur. He also seized the occasion attack Mr. Lenormand, saying rumours such as this caused ile to have doubts about the tier country at a time when ice needed all the loyalty she 1 get.

"Unfair"

> some people it will seem un to accuse Mr. Lenormand of a our that has been current in s. Nevertheless, according to a ir published in Noumea’s daily spaper and signed by New sdonia’s Senator Henry Lafleur, source of the rumour was in bralia. r. Lafleur claimed that Aus lan business interests were try to get hold of the New Hebrides had started the rumour to test public reaction. ranee, said Mr. Lafleur, bought millions worth of products a the New Hebrides each year; ain took practically nothing, and tralia took some £55,000 worth.

Australian interests coveted the French share of the trade, said Mr Lafleur, and were doing their best to get it.

Just why Australia should go to these lengths to buy goods from the New Hebrides has not been ex plained. It is easier to imagine a plot enabling Australia to sell more goods, but hardly the contrary. New Hebrides products are not unique.

Coffee, cocoa and copra can be found in plenty of other places.

The background of all this probably is that for a long time New Caledonia has been suspicious of Australia’s intentions towards the New Hebrides and also to New Caledonia itself. Hardly a year goes by without somebody “discovering” some base move by Australia towards the undermining of French influence in the New Hebrides and New Caledonia.

"Enough Troubles"

It does not seem to enter French heads that Australia has enough troubles on her hands with her present territories without acquiring any more. Also, Australia owns large tracts of land in the New Hebrides and Australian interests are well established there yet still Australia does not seem to be en gulfing the country—as everybody fears she is.