New Hebrides
pp. 69-71 · Read in the full issue
N.Z. Journalist's View
"Fears Of French Dominion" In The New Hebrides
English-speaking residents of the New Hebrides fear that the French are planning gradually to push the British and British Commonwealth interests out of the territory, according to an article in The Press, of Christ
church, New Zealand, on
October 19.
THE article was written by Robin Mitchell, a staff writer on The Press, which is a daily morning paper.
Mitchell recently visited the New Hebrides.
Mitchell said that English-speaking residents alleged that if the French continued to break the Protocol (Anglo-French condominium agree ment) “as they had done with in creasing frequency” and without overt British protests in recent years, the Protocol would “become progressively more of a dead letter and eventually France will be in undisputed control”.
“Visiting only Vila and Santo,”
Mitchell went on, “one would soon conclude that the French had the battle as good as won. Among Euro peans in the towns, French is heard almost everywhere; for although most English speakers are fluent also in French, the French seem to have little English at their command.
“Although agencies run by the Condominium Government are sup posed to be strictly non-partisan, the French influence usually predomin ates. For example, although the post office at Santo is labelled Post Office —Bureau des Pastes, at least a smat tering of French is necessary to make oneself understood there. The only decoration taking the eye is a magnifi cent full-length coloured portrait of ‘General de Gaulle, President of the Republic, Head of the Community’.”
Expressly Forbidden
Mitchell said that although the pre sence of armed troops was expressly forbidden in the Protocol, French gendarmes had been armed with sub machine guns for some time.
“French servicemen,” he added, march up and down the streets of Santo and Vila on Bastille Day (July
14) and French warships show the Tricolour up and down the islands.”
Mitchell said that both the British and French Governments had shown increased interest in the New Heb rides in recent years. But whereas the British had mainly tried to improve and supplement the “somewhat un even but fairly comprehensive facili ties provided by the missions, and particularly their educational and medical systems,” the French had gone in for “a relatively small num ber of much more ambitious pro jects.”
“If, as the cynical say, these were meant to impress the Melanesians,
they seem to have achieved their pur pose,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell went on: “English speak ing-residents complain that the French schools try to turn all the children into Frenchmen. The Mar seillaise is sung regularly, and there is unlikely to be any nonsense about showing both flags, as most English speaking mission schools do.
“In recent years a prominent Mel anesian has been sent to Paris each Bastille Day. French honours and decorations have been lavished on leading men from all over the terri tory, “Although many residents, includ
ing French-speaking ones and lead ing Melanesians regard all this as os tentatious and somewhat petty, some of the rank and file Melanesians are obviously impressed.
“Perhaps of more significance in a place where two racial communities meet, the French residents, apart from officials, mostly regard the New Hebrides as their home, and tend to look on the Melanesians as fellow nationals. Consequently, the French tend to accept the Melanesians socially as equals.
“Most residents and officials from the Commonwealth, even though pre pared to work in the territory fo r long periods in the interests of reli gion, commerce. Government or per sonal ambition, have their roots else where; and the Melanesians find them mostly aloof and sometimes condes cending.
“Because of the general backward ness of the New Hebrides and the ex treme scarcity of educated Melane sians, early self-government is un likely (unless United Nations pressure forces it).
“But the next few years could be vital in determining the general orien tation of the territory both before and after eventual independence.”
Editorial Mitchell’s article prompted an edi torial in his own paper on October 28 which stated that the British, Aus tralian and New Zealand Govern ments could not remain indifferent to apparent French ambitions in the New Hebrides.
The editorial said it was “perhaps unfortunate” that France’s partner in the condominium was Britain rather than Australia or New Zealand, which in many ways had a greater community of interest with the island territories.
“New Zealand,” the editorial added, “has a special interest in the New Hebrides and its Melanesian people, many of whom are members of churches whose missions are largely staffed by New Zealanders.
“Eventually the Melanesians of the New Hebrides must determine their own political future; and it would be unfortunate if they were to be denied the advantages of British help and ex perience during their preparation for self-government.
“New Zealand would do well to show more practical interest in the New Hebrides. A very little financial assistance for economic development would go a long way; and the slender trade links with the area could be strengthened with advantage to both sides.”