Trafalgar in a teacup
pp. 15-17 · Read in the full issue
From a Vila correspondent
A French writer foreshadowed independence for the New Hebrides and suggests that it would be the first link to break in the chain of French holdings in the Pacific.
This is the conclusion drawn by French journalist J.-C. Guillebaud in a series of three articles in the Paris daily Le Monde. This study follows Guillebaud’s analysis of New Caledonia, which PIM discussed last November.
Humorously treating the rivalries between British and French administrators, the French writer notes that apart from 6,000 European inhabitants, the New Hebrides includes some 80,000 Melanesians who have no citizenship or civil rights and are thus practically excluded from all deba te- 1 hey are, meanwhile, ruled by two
Powers with distinctly different in terests, which he defines as “thousands of acres of land” for France and “thousands of souls, saved from paganism”, for her Britannic Majesty.
Noting that Britain has few economic interests in the islands, Guillebaud wryly concludes, “It is apparently more glorious to administer souls than coconut plantations”, Sheer rivalry keeps the two Powers engaged on the scene, which he likens to the battle of “Trafalgar in a tea cup”. The British would like to re treat, if only they could leave behind an active hand grenade—a local elite, largely English-speaking, Meanwhile, the progress of the battle is entertaining to discuss: among London’s successful “hits” one notes the influx of Anglo-Saxon capital, especially Australian, lured
by the local tax haven. As English J {business signs go up along Vila’s main I f street, however, the French scent (“Australian imperialism over the i South Pacific . . . imperialism which I is henceforth inevitably present in ! (the thoughts of) all French adminis trations in Oceania”, j A Gallic counter-shot is the land speculation of American businessmen, supposedly encouraged by France to permit their nationals to get rid of their unprofitable copra plantations, although such sales were later blocked.
During his visit to the islands, the writer noticed a “strange effervescence I stirring the Melanesian tribes”. He I considers the indigene’s preoccupation f with extensive lands “bought” by the I colonising Powers; the resurgence of a Melanesian “personality”, with a re f turn to nature and questioning of the I industrial Western society; a rejec > tion of oppressive Christianity and the emergence of new cults. He de [tects an anti-European sentiment amid 1 a movement which could support the urge for independence.
Guillebaud tells of pressure for in- I dependence encouraged particularly : within the Presbyterian Church. He finds other missions trying to outbid leach other in the same direction. He [notes the Roman Catholic missions [are more tied to the French Adminis tration, through State aid for their schools. But the young priests are on the same wave-length as the Protes tants in the independence drive. [ All forces now being apparently en gaged in this direction, the French [journalist finds the UK and France competing to prepare the way, their ■way, for independence, especially as economic control from outside is likely to persist. He relates that hardly a week goes by in Vila with out a “diplomatic incident” between the two Residences over this issue.
Meanwhile, the main Anglo-French tussle is over education and equip ment for the islands. The French are now trying to catch up on the schools; they have only about 8,000 students, compared with the 12,000 to 15,000 enrolled in English institu tions. This means that almost all the Melanesian elite is still composed of English-speaking students, nearly all of them urging independence.
On expenditure for other public facilities France is ahead, although sometimes her installations are for prestige, whereas the British consider the expense of future upkeep.
Finally, treating the political de velopment of the archipelago, Guille baud notes France is not prepared to give the vote to the Melanesians and create a truly deliberating Assembly, by extending the powers
and representativity of the present Advisory Council. France talks in stead of creating municipal responsi bility, as in New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
The Le Monde writer believes France does not want to give up the New Hebrides for fear it sets off a chain reaction through other French territories. New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
The French solution then lies in de veloping local beef production in the hope that an agricultural New Hebri des, plus Wallis and Futuna Islands could be hitched onto an industrial ised New Caledonia. But for writer Guillebaud, France is creating a poor image by her stand which is hard to justify when even the smallest islands are getting independence. He thus sees the New Hebrides as the first likely link to break in the French chain, unless France wants to declare war on England, to “save” Vila.