Caledonian politics

A 'deceived' Chatenay bows out of Caledonian politics

From a Noumea correspondent

A veteran Gaullist leader in New Caledonia has published a lengthy declaration of his bitterness and weariness over the Caledonian struggle, while staging a dramatic resignation from the Territorial Assembly in favour of a Melanesian successor.

Georges Chatenay, for 18 years leader in the House of the pro- French Administration party Union Democratique (UD), announced his political retirement mid-March in a 17-page catalogue of his deceptions and frustrations.

The 55-year-old Caledonian bar rister, his face deeply lined beyond its years, has been the local cham pion of the French presence on the island and yet now, like a dis illusioned team captain, he has walked off the field and deserted his supporters. In his own words, he is withdrawing “to give back to my electors the votes they have given me for so long over political beliefs which I no longer hold and which are no longer held by the others, either”.

He describes the doubt now enter ing his mind and, in the measured but veiled terms of a lawyer and veteran tactician, asks was it wrong that the light should have been seen before him by a well-known Cale donian teacher, readily identifiable as ‘an autonomist’.

Before coming to this questioning of all he has stood for, Chatenay opens his heart to tell how he has been deceived by those in high places, in Noumea and Paris, who willingly listened to his counsel but failed to take heed of a Caledonian spokesman. He addresses his thoughts to colleagues and friends as well as to Governor Eriau, “who will no doubt be one of the last Governors of our territory, for . . . the tide of History is irreversible”.

Just as he is sickened by outside manipulators from Paris, so he warns fellow islanders to beware of Communist inspiration and to trust rather in local men.

If one seeks an immediate prompt ing to Chatenay’s lengthy outburst, one notes his reference to the nickel situation and to the forthcoming

French senatorial elections. Twice Chatenay failed in attempts to be come Caledonian deputy to the National Assembly in Paris, since autonomists Lenormand and Pidjot both defeated him. Since by his own admission he has now been dropped from the intimate deliberations of the French authorities, he no doubt realises he could not be their candi date in the forthcoming senatorial tussle.

In the nickel context, Chatenay’s letter is written as Canadian INCO’s bulldozers are being shipped out of their seemingly hopeless project in New Caledonia to go to the more welcoming nickel mines of Indo nesia, just as did E. Pentecost’s Japanese bulldozers several years earlier. At the same time, he notes the growing French state control of the island’s nickel industry with nothing new being achieved—“ One could die laughing to think that SNPA (Aquitaine Petroleum) which came to stop INCO from being established here, is going (to con tent itself with) absorbing the SEN”.

Chatenay’s disillusionment is clear —for years he has been legal adviser to the Canadians, whom the Cale donians have been clamouring for Paris to allow into the Territory.

And still there is no new nickel factory.

Now recalling what his old (autonomist) teacher stood for, Chatenay joins with today’s youth: “I cry out after them—We’re fed up!” He sees the tide rising beyond long-felt Caledonian suffering to the day when the islanders assume their responsibilities. He deplores having Caledonians treated like “state wards” and calls for enlightenment, good old French humanisme.

Chatenay’s replacement in the assembly will be next man on his electoral list, Joseph Tidjine, a 39year-old Melanesian who taught for seven years in the New Hebrides before joining the Hebridean Bureau at the High Commissioner’s office in Noumea.

Meanwhile, Chatenay quits “hop ing not to have to return”. He an nounces he is tired out and going to sleep . . . “with one eye open”.

Is he still hoping that he will be called back to fight for a remedy which he is not bold enough to dictate?