But France says "no" to New Caledonia

France’s Minister for Overseas Territories, General Pierre Billotte, stated in Paris on February 27 that the French Government had no intention of granting internal self-government to nickel-rich New Cale donia.

General Billotte was commenting on a resolution passed in January by New Caledonia’s popularly-elected Territorial Assembly (P/M, Feb., p. 23). The resolution asked for internal self-government within the French Republic. Voting was 24 to nine in favour, with four abstentions.

General Billotte said: “The Caledonian Press has expressed sharp criticism of this resolution. Certainly the initiative taken by the Territorial Assembly contains elements likely to arouse the feelings of Caledonians of all origins.

“It must therefore be replied to clearly. That is why I say that the government does not intend to grant this request. It must be remembered once and for all that New Caledonia, despite its distance from France, is a part of the national territory, and that this situation will not be brought into question again.”

General Billotte’s statement coincided with the arrival in Noumea of 300 French army parachutists, and a strike over pay increases at the nickel smelters of the Rothschild-owned Societe le Nickel, which handles New Caledonia’s entire nickel production.

The army parachutists, whose arrival was given little publicity, have been billeted at a former US Forces camp at Plum, about 15 miles from Noumea. The official reason for their arrival is that they will “reinforce safety measures in the South Pacific.” However, at least one Noumea newspaper, Voix du Cagou, has linked their arrival with unrest in the nickel industry. . .

The strike at the smelters started on February 26 when negotiations broke down for pay rises of 11 per cent. The increases are necessary, the strikers claim, because of a recent sky-rockting rise in the price of meat.