but not any more. We don’t even

know when the tests are carried out.

MP: Does that mean that there could be a nuclear test today and you wouldn’t know about it?

JT: That’s right.

MP; But you are an elected representative of the people here.

JT: Yes. It is through peple who work there that we know when there has been a nuclear test. There are still some Tahitian workers on the island, and they ’re the people who tell us.

MP: Are you still hopeful that these nuclear tests can be stopped or have you given up the fight?

JT: Given up . . . maybe not, but I can’t see any possibility of

stopping them. The only possi

bility is to claim independence, that’s the only way.

MP: Will you claim

independence?

JT: It would be difficult now, as the people aren’t ready for independence. The Tahitians live an unnatural life now. They don’t eat local food any more.

They live off imported goods, tinned food and other things.

MP: Do you think that France will allow the country to become

independent?

JT: I don’t think that it would be in their interest to give us independence. There are now a lot of French people living here, and they live better here than in France. That’s why I can’t say whether France would give us

independence. It’s something we

must take by ourselves, we would almost have to wage a war to get it!

MP: I have spoken with some people here who say that if the leaders of the large parties, that means Francis Sanford and your self, demanded independence, then you could obtain it. Is it correct?

JT: We could maybe obtain

independence, but the people

aren’t ready. There would be

struggles, unemployment, all

possible things. And where could we go ... we don’t know how we can get help.

MP; Does that mean that if you asked for independence, it would be a break with France, not co-operation?

JT: We would prefer co operation, but I don’t know if

France would continue to col laborate with us, if we were to ask for independence. Then they would ask for the right to con tinue using Moruroa, and would continue to use the centre for nuclear tests, that’s what they would do.

MP: Is there no solution?

JT: For the CEP, no. We must take our independence and keep all our islands. But we will have problems, just like the Comoro Islands in the Indian Ocean. I believe that they will try to per suade the inhabitants of the Mar quesas to send a document say ing that they want to remain French, just as was done in

Mayotte.

MP: You believe that the French will try to divide the

population?

JT; That’s right. There are

already rumors about the Marquesas.

MP; What do you think will happen in the future, will there be development, or will things stay as they are?

JT: It will be a slow develop ment, but I can see from the attitudes of people that they will demand independence. At pre sent they don’t know how the country lives from day to day.

But we are aware of these things in the Territorial Assembly.

Without French money, our budget couldn’t be met. Nearly half of our expenditure is paid by France. In education for example and that’s the largest single item in the budget.

MP: Don’t you believe that you could manage better without France?

JT: Yes, it’s always better to

be yourself in your own country, not to have foreigners ruling over you. Now there are things we wish to do that we can’t do. The Territorial Assembly may take a decision, but if the French gover nor is opposed to it, or takes his own decision, there’s nothing we can do. For instance, when a new leader for the agriculture section was to be chosen, we wanted a Tahitian, but the French gover nor would not allow this.

MP: Are there areas other than agriculture where they try to put a spoke in your wheel?

JT: No, agriculture is our most important responsibility, and it is the area we would like to take over first. Everything else is less important. If we want to become independent, we must be able to feed ourselves, and it’s just that, I believe, that they won’t allow.