Unhappy At

Tahitians

Bomb Tests

From a Papeete Correspondent The French Prime Minister, Mr. Georges Pompidou, and the president of French Polynesia’s Territorial Assembly, Mr.

Jacques Tauraa, politely disagreed on France’s Pacific atom tests when Mr.

Pompidou visited Tahiti at the end of July.

U|R. POMPIDOU visited French ▼A Polynesia to examine problems reated by France’s decision to carry ut nuclear tests at Mururoa Atoll i 1966.

Mr. Tauraa said in the Assembly lat there was a certain amount of pposition among the people of rench Polynesia to the tests.

The installation of the testing sntre would cause complications in le social life of the people.

Local people were reacting un ivourably to new houses being built ar staff connected with the tests, reparations for the tests would bring ;mporary prosperity.

“But what will become of the ibour when construction of the test te is finished?” Mr. Tauraa asked.

He said he considered that those ho opposed the tests were right. He id not want his remarks to be taken s anti-French, for he wanted Tahiti > always remain an integral part of ranee.

Lesson of Past Mr. Pompidou, in reply, said it 'as France’s duty to equip the nation Tth the most modern weapons. She ad learned in the past what it cost ) be unprepared.

If major war broke out France 'anted to avoid the possibility of be ig destroyed, and she could only do iat by having her own atomic 'eapons. Those who did not have uclear arms would disappear in a 'ar, or they would have to submit to n enemy, and France would not abmit.

Mr. Pompidou said that some :ientists had already arrived in 'ahiti, and others were on the way. t would be one of their duties to

determine the results of atomic tests, and to see what effect they would have on the flora and fauna of the territory.

They would pay great attention to

the possible effect on fish in the lagoons and seas surrounding the lagoons.

The authorities were convinced there would be no inconvenience; if inconvenience was likely there would be no tests.

Mr. Pompidou denied that the tests would create temporary prosperity.

The current “boom” was attracting capital to the territory, but it was up to the local authorities to make the best possible future use of that capital.

The presence of scientists over a number of years would ensure a steady circulation of money. Their presence also should encourage young Polynesians to aspire to responsible scientific posts.

Mr. Pompidou also referred briefly to Tahiti’s “Chinese problem”. France had no project of massive integration of the Chinese in Tahiti. But any Chinese who sought French citizen ship would have his case sympathetic ally considered by the Governor at Papeete.

Mr, Pompidou paid a visit to Mururoa when the new airstrip was just finished. He inspected camp in stallations and the nuclear test sites.

During a brief stop-over in Noumea en route to Tahiti, Mr. Pompidou said France would provide television for New Caledonia, and that a more powerful broadcasting station would be built in Noumea.

"I said, the im-PACT OF CIVILISATION is bound to b-be F-FELT HERE someday ... y . . . y!"