Co-operation -

M. Dijoud’s way

The Paris weekly Le Nouvel Observateur in February car ried an interview with Paul Dijoud, France’s Secretary of State for Overseas Depart ments and Territories. Mr Dijoud explained to the inter viewer, Pierre-Marie Doutrel ant, why France wishes to remain in the Pacific. Text of the interview follows: Le Nouvel Observateur. France is still a colonial power since it is holding on to three territories in the Pacific.

Paul Dijoud: If France is in New Caledonia, Tahiti, and Wallis and Futuna, it is by the freely expressed will of their populations.

N. 0.: But the Melanesians of Caledonia are demanding inde pendence.

P D.: Supporters of remain ing with France got two-thirds of the vole at the last elections in New Caledonia.

NO.: But these two-thirds are Whites and Wallisians who have emigrated to Caledonia.

The indigenous people of the country are for independence.

P.D.: No, the Melanesians who voted for the Union Caledonienne did so from senti mental attachment to the party and not because they have become supporters of indepen dence. The true advocates of independence are a small min ority.

N. 0.; You say so. But in any case the Kanak vote carries more weight than the colonists’ vote.

P.D.: No, we’re talking about a democracy. Everyone who has chosen to live in New Caledonia is equal under universal suf frage. They are all, without exception, French citizens.

N. 0.: But France set itself up there against the will of the Kanaks.

P.D.: Certainly the Melan esians have some moral rights because they were clearly the first occupants of the territory.

For example, they have the right to recover to a reasonable extent their tribal and clan lands, and their sacred sites.

This is the purpose of the land reform.

N. 0.: It’s a pretty timid reform: 9150 hectares of land redistributed in two years. Not even 200 square metres per Kanak.

P.D.: We’re moving on to 10 000 hectares a year over 10 years. We will also be giving land to Wallisians who live in Caledonia and to colonists who left the New Hebrides after independence. Our reform has no racism about it. Unlike the demand for Kanak indepen dence which says ‘All land to the Melanesians’. We’re seek ing to build a multi-racial, fraternal society there.

N. 0.: The old myth of inte gration again. You’re dreaming of turning New Caledonia into an ‘Overseas Department.

P.D.: I’m making no fore casts. New Caledonia has a good constitutional set-up which leaves the door open for all kinds of developments, in cluding a strengthening of ties.

The French Stale at present is developing contractual links with it which respect its auton omy.

NO.: Let’s say straight out that France has good reasons for staying in the Pacific. The atomic bomb, mineral ores, sea bed nodules . . .

P.D.: Why disguise the fact that our national interest is to stay in the Pacific? Thanks to our territories and their zones of sovereignty, France has the third largest maritime econ omic zone in the world. The core of humanity’s hopes lies in the sea and under the sea.

What’s more, the major powers of the 21st century are to be found around the Pacific: the United States, the USSR, Japan, China, Indonesia, and so on. So it’s natural that France should be there.

N. 0.: Even if its presence is challenged by states in the region such as Australia and Papua New Guinea?

P.D.: It’s being challenged less and less.