FRENCH ISLANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1942, Page 4

FRENCH ISLANDS

ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON. POPULATION FAVOURS ALLIES. News that reached the outer world from St. Pierre and Miquelon, the two French islands south of Newfoundland that have got into the newspapers, showed that the French there do not differ from Frenchmen anywhere in their sympathies. The following letter addressed by a delegation of the islanders to the Newfoundland Broadcasting Corporation is of interest in this connection: “In the name of 95 per cent of the population of St Pierre and Miquelon in favour of the Allies, we ask you, dear friends, to be kind enough to help in a decision, so that we may be delivered from the tyrants and from those who govern us. Since the broadcast of the speeches of Marshal Petain and Admiral Darlan, the situation of the Free French here has grown more and more critical. Your broadcasts are so jammed that we can no longer pick them up. The jamming is done by the head of the wireless station, who is anti-British and a member of the Gestapo and the Fifth Column. We are no longer allowed the flag bearing the cross of Lorraine (the Free French emblem), under pain of fine and punishment. Conversation in favour oT the Allies, in which everyone takes part, is forbidden. The leaders of the Allies are referred to as traitors. The authorities celebrated the occupation of IndoChina by the Japanese. They would prefer to see the French colonies in the hands of the enemy. Dear friends, we cannot tolerate such things. But since we can do nothing, we call on you to save us.” The plebiscite held by the Free French showed a result of 98.2 per cent in favour of Free France and the Allies. The figures were: St Pierre: For Free France and the Allies, 651 votes; ' for Vichy and collaboration with the Axis, 10. Miquelon: For Free France and the Allies, 69 votes; for Vichy and collaboration with the Axis, 4. He aux Marins: For Free France and the Allies, 63 votes; for Vichy and collaboration with the Axis, 0 (3 void). Total votes: For 783, against 14.