in Paris
pp. 52-53 · Read in the full issue
P.I.M. views published in Paris
A common theory among Frenchmen, and particularly those of them living in New Caledonia and French Polynesia, is that Australia seeks to usurp France’s position in the Pacific. Thus, Australia is accused of supporting the inde pendence movement in New Caledonia largely because it will remove French influence so that Australia may take over as the dominant power.
The question arose during conversation in Sydney be tween PlM’s publisher, Garry Barker, and a visiting French journalist, Bernard Cohen, of the Paris daily newspaper, Liberation. Barker’s rejection of the claim was fulsomely re ported by Liberation in what may be the most extensive reporting of an Australian view of the New Caledonian position yet published in France.
Barker told Cohen: “Because we are geographically close to the island it has become com monplace in anti-independence French circles to accuse Austra
lia of wanting to grab hold of New Caledonia. But, let’s be serious: there is not a single political party in Australia, not a single viable pressure group, supporting any such course of action. The decolonisation pro cess is France’s business, and the business of the local popu lation in New Caledonia. Aus tralia’s one concern is that New Caledonia should be stable, peaceful, and an active part of the free democratic world.”
He added: “The level of Australia’s overseas aid is already considered to be higher than the economy can reason ably afford. And New Caledo nia is seen as needing outside assistance for some long time.
Nor is it likely that our investors would be tempted by the Caledonian nickel mines, con sidering the present depressed state of world metal markets and the fact that we have mineral resources of our own which, incidentally, have their own problems right now.
What’s more, our continent
contains more than enough beaches and coconut palms...”
Cohen wrote that while there appeared to be a certain ambiguity in Australian govern ment attitudes to the New Cale donia crisis, due to its twin concerns to see the Pacific decolonised while not embar rassing President Mitterrand, non-government Australian specialists were unequivocal in their attitude.
He quoted the PIM pub lisher: “This Melanesian terri tory must become indepen dent. Opposing the trend to independence has so far done nothing but foul things up, with both sides, Kanak pro-inde pendence people, and pro- French militants alike, falling in with the perilous logic of con frontation between the com munities.”
Drawing an analogy between the New Caledonia situation and Australia’s experience in Papua New Guinea, Mr Barker said: “Granting independence to a former colony is never easy, but the methods em ployed by Australia in PNG might certainly serve as an example to France. The legacy of colonialism was just as heavy, and a sitution of racial confrontation was taking shape in the island, which, let me say, represents a far bigger econo mic and strategic stake than New Caledonia. Today, the government of Michael Somare is in a very difficult situation.
The dangers of destabilisation posed by Indonesia’s moves in Irian Jaya are of the utmost gravity. But none of this for a moment throws into question Australia’s decision to relinqu ish direct control.”
He said that first the problem of tribal lands had to be set tled with regard to the long established French farmers.
“Once relations between the communities are pacified in this way, there is no reason why France should not maintain a military presence in the island, provided it is there as a matter of consent and agreement.
“But the difference between such a presence and today’s situation is a vital one: a French base in Noumea by the consent of an independent government would be seen as a contribution to the Western presence in the region and not as a colonial bastion. ”