TAHITI AND N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 230, 27 September 1940, Page 6

TAHITI AND N.Z.

CHANGE OF REGIME.

CLOSER RELATIONSHIP

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.

As the outcome of recent developments, of which little has been heard, the French colony of Tahiti and the group of islands known as French Oceania, have come into closer relationship with New Zealand. A high official of the New Zealand Government ha*, recently visited Tahiti to complete arrangements, especially regarding the shipment of much-needed supplies.

These" developments have followed the holding of a plebiscite which, as the Prime Minister announced on September 3, resulted in 5564 votes being cast in favour of General de Gaulle and only IS for the Vichy Government.

As in every other French colony, the capitulation of the Petain Government caused in Tahiti considerable tension. The people, as the plebiscite was to demonstrate, were hostile to the Government which capitulated, but the local governor, the military authorities and some of the civil servants supported it.

This state of affairs lasted for eight weeks, when a French sloop arrived in Tahiti. Its commander, who was a representative of the Petain Government, tried to take charge of the island, but did not succeed, for he came into dispute with the governor. Meanwhile Tahiti was faced with a shortage of food, as no French ship dared sail the seas for fear of capture by the British patrols, and the British were not sending any ships for fear of being fired on. The island was left to itself to settle its disputes. One British ship about to arrive in Tahiti would have been fired on had she gone in the harbour, as the French military had orders to fire on her. However, she quickly put out again for the open sea. This ship had supplies, but Tahiti was deprived of them. In the meantime, the sloop sailed to New Caledonia, her commander having received no satisfaction from the governor.

At this stage, the Mayor and a few prominent French citizens started actively to challenge the Vichy regime, and arranged for a plebiscite to be held. They pointed out that Tahiti would have "no food" if they continued to have Vichy sympathies, whereas both food and protection would come from Britain and General de Gaulle.

The result of the plebiscite was, of course, overwhelming. The 18 unfortunates who voted for Vichy were soon known. The Governor was forced to resign, and also other heads of the military and Civil Service. Wben the news of the plebiscite was flashed abroad, certain action was taken by Britain. The 18 Vichy sympathisers men and women and their children, were sent away from the island, and it is believed in Tahiti that they went to Vancouver. A new Governor was installed, a Frenchman who was on his way to France from Noumea when the trouble occurred, but accepted the position.

"It was the British who saved the situation," is one opinion in Tahiti. "Their timely intervention paved the way to peace in the island. Everything now is running smoothly, and all is quiet. Tahiti is no more but no less a British protectorate under the supervision of the New Zealand Government. As it was in New Caledonia, so it was in Tahiti, but now everything is running well, with Australia more or less protecting New Caledonia, and New Zealand Tahiti."

The Society Islands (Tahiti, Mooea, etc.) hare an area of about 650 square miles and a population of about 14,000.