That Absurd

Condominium

The New Hebrides was an ab surd example of colonialism and the worst example of non-co operation between two colonial powers. This was the view of the Fiji Government expressed by one of her delegates, Mr Satya Nandan, speaking in December before the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr Nandan tabled a resolution deploring France’s “continued refusal” to co-operate with the Committee of 24 in the examin ation of the New Hebrides, and asking France to take part in the committee’s proceedings.

The New Hebrides problem was unique because it had two colonial masters, said Mr Nandan.

The joint British-French adminis tration had divided political power between them without regard for the interests of the local people.

Thus, the people were artificially divided into two nations.

The condominium gave a

unique opportunity to compare the attitudes of Britain and France to decolonisation. It was clear Britain wanted to decolonise. It had co-operated with the UN Committee of 24.

France, on the other hand, neither co-operated with the com mittee, nor would she submit in formation about the New Heb redies. France’s future attitude would either be very negative, or unclear.

Mr Nandan was critical of the recent Anglo-French agreement on constitutional change in the New Hebrides. It was minor and rudi mentary and referred only to local government representation and administrative co-operation in some areas, such as airport

administration. The agreement failed to record the right of self determination of the people of the New Hebrides.

The New Hebridean people were not consulted about the changes, he said.

The agreement did not mention any overall programme for con stitutional development to imple ment the general assembly’s de claration on decolonisation. Thus the ultimate aims of Britain and France were unclear.

Mr Nandan appealed to both countries, and particularly to France, to let the international community know their attitudes to decolonisation of the New Hebrides.

The Fiji resolution also wel comed Britain’s positive attitude about receiving visiting missions in its territories, and asked France to reconsider its attitude to visiting missions to the New H ebrides.