FUTURE OF TAHITI

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1940, Page 3

FUTURE OF TAHITI

AN UNCERTAIN OUTLOOK

SOME INTERNAL DIVISION.

ACCORDING TO THROUGH PASSENGERS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND. August 14

News of a very unsettled situation in the French possession of Tahiti was brought bj r passengers who arrived at Auckland by the Mariposa. There was great uncertainty as to the future of the island, .it was stated. While some passengers thought most people favoured Britain, others thought the most influential section of the population leaned toward the Petain Government.

Several passengers said there was a somewhat strained situation between the Governor, whose views had changed considerably, and the commander of a French warship which was in port. The warship was believed to be the sloop Dumont. d'Urville, which visited New Zealand recently. In some quarters on the island there was a wish that the United States should take over protection of the island till the end of the war.

One passenger said he understood the question of American relations had been raised in Washington. However, other residents felt that a more discreet policy should be followed, lest Japan should raise objections to American intervention. In addition to the French warship, a freighter believed to be the 6975-ton Messageries Maritimes steamer Ville d’Amiens was also in port at Papeete. Passengers stated that they had been informed that the crew had been without pay for a considerable time, and had declined to move the vessel from the wharf to allow the Matson vessel to berth. Consequently the steamer had been moved by the crew of the naval ship, while a mach-ine-gun was mounted on the wharf. Another passenger said there had been a shortage of bread on the island. through supplies not arriving by British ships, on account of the fear that they might be held in port. However it was believed this difficulty had now been overcome.