FRENCH ENVOY’S VISIT

Southland Times, Issue 24826, 19 August 1942, Page 5

FRENCH ENVOY’S VISIT

New Zealand’s Policy Outlined

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 18. The policy of the New Zealand Government to Fighting France is based on the maintenance of the integrity of France and the French Empire and their eventual restoration and complete reconstruction. This outline of New Zealand policy is contained in an exchange of letters between the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P . Fraser, and Contre-Amiral Georges Thierry d’Argenlieu, a member of the French National Committee (the governing body of Fighting France) and the committee’s delegate for the Pacific. The French National Committee, of which General de Gaulle is president, is regarded by New Zealand as being the body governing all Frenchmen and all French territories and possessions who adhere to Fighting France. The New Zealand Government will continue to treat only with the French National Committee in matters in which the collaboration of Fighting France is involved. The New Zealand Government fully recognizes the efforts of Fighting France in the common cause.

Mr Fraser declared as being of special interest to New Zealand the maintenance of the authority of the French National Committee in all insular possessions and territories of France in the Pacific, including French Oceania. The New Zealand Government recognized that the authority of the French National Committee extended to all civil and military matters in such possessions. The New Zealand Government accepted with pleasure the appointment of M. Antoine de la Tribouille, delegate in New Zealand of the French National Committee. His functions would include the issue of passports and visas and other administrative and legal formalities concerning Frenchmen who adhered to Fighting France. CULTURED FRENCHMEN In formally welcoming Contre-Amiral d’Argenlieu, the Prime Minister said the Government and people of New Zealand were paying honour to the cause of Fighting France. He paid a tribute to General de Gaulle and all his associates representing the France “that we knew and that we love and honour.” Vichy was not France, he said. Vichy represented the bankruptcy of what was France. Mr Fraser added that Contre-Amiral d’Argenlieu was a man prominent in many fields. He was highly cultured and had played his part in the last war. He had been a member of the Carmelite Order, but the present war had brought him forth once more into the French Navy. His present war service had included a gallant part in the defence of Cherbourg, after which he had become a prisoner of war. He had escaped. Referring specifically to the Solomons Islands action by the United States, Mr Fraser said the Fighting French, in common with New Zealanders, were following the fortunes of the United States forces. They knew that upon the decision of the struggle depended to a great extent the future fate of New Caledonia, Fiji and New Zealand.

Contre-Amiral d’Argenlieu, replying, said Fighting France was fully resolved to fight to an end with the Allies so that the cause of liberty might prevail.