NEW CALEDONIA FOR FREE FRANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 224, 20 September 1940, Page 7

NEW CALEDONIA FOR FREE FRANCE.

IMPORTANT MOVE. I m Closer Australian Ties Expected. United Press Association.— Copyright. (Reed. 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Advice has been received by the Federal Government from Noumea that New Caledonia has declared itself for Free France, and has linked up with General de Gaulle. The temporary Governor, appointed by the Vichy Government, has resigned to make way for a Governor appointed by General de Gaulle.

The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. R. G. Menzice, said the internal government of New Caledonia was a matter for its people, but Australia was naturally interested in developments there, which meant a friendly French colony, strengthening the close economic and cultural ties already existing between Australia and New Caledonia.

"Wβ have extensive trade relations there and we will continue to watch affaire with helpful and sympathetic interest," he said. "We hope that as eoon as possible there will be a measure of economic co-operation, not as a matter of hostility to anyone, but as a matter of mutual interest.

"New Caledonia produces much nickel, chrome and ores of which Australia recently has made substantial purchases."

According to a London broadcast the acting-Governor of the colony, Colonel Denis, resigned after popular demonstrations against the Vichy Government. His successor is' the. former Resident Commissioner of the New Hebrides, M. Sautot, who took office on Thursday. He was one of the first French officials to oppose the Vichy Government and to join General de Gaulle with other free Frenchmen. M. Sautot, in a statement, said he was glad to take office without bloodshed. VALUABLE ALLY. GREAT MINERAL WEALTH. New Caledonia, a Pacific island, 248 miles long with an average breadth of 31 miles, was discovered by Captain Cook in 1774. It was annexed by the French in 1854 In the face of an unsuccessful British counter-claim. Of the total area, is not suitable for cultivation. About 1000 square miles are pasture land, and about the same area is cultivated or can be cultivated, while approximately 500 square miles contain forest, which ie being worked. The land is divided into two domains, that of the native reserve and that of the State (in which gratuitous concessions may be made).

Besides such agricultural products as coffee, copra, cotton, manioc, maize, tobacco, bananas and pineapples, the island supports some thousands of cattle, sheep, goats, horses and pigs. The mineral resources are very great, chrome, cobalt, nickel, iron and copper abounding, while many other metals, including gold and silver, have been obtained.

New Caledonia is administered by a Governor asoistc-d by a. Privy Council, while there is also an elective CouncilGeneral of 15 members. The capital, Noumea, has a municipality, and other centres of population are' locally administered by municipal commissions. The island, according to the 193 C census, has a population of 53,245, and Noumea 11,108. The colony has a number of island dependencies.

The New Hebrides, to the north of New Caledonia, in accordance with the Anglo-French Convention of 1906, are jointly administered by a British and a French High Commissioner. What little news has come from the New Hebrides since the collapse of France lias shown an apparent tendency toward the Free France movement.