Received 31 August 1940

IMMEDIATE MOST SECRET

My telegram to the Commonwealth Government of 18th August No. 298
[1] and to New Zealand Government No. 259.

It is understood that as a result of a report from the Governor of
New Caledonia [2] that the population of that colony was anti-
Vichy, the sloop DUMONT D'URVILLE was ordered by the Vichy
Government to proceed from Papeete to New Caledonia. Reliable
information has since been received that after meeting the
Governor the captain of the sloop [3] has recommended to Vichy
certain drastic measures, including relief of the Governor and of
the Secretary-General [4] who is said to be the leader of the
autonomist party, the institution of proceedings against the
autonomist leaders and the development of trade with Japan and
America to oust British economic influence. The situation in New
Caledonia has thus been brought to a head since the Commonwealth
Government's telegram of 11th August No. 426 [5], and it has
become of the greatest importance that an attempt should be made
at once to forestall the efforts of the Vichy Government to take
drastic measures against the pro-British elements in the colony.

It seems unlikely that so long as the DUMONT D'URVILLE remains at
Noumea the anti-Vichy elements in New Caledonia will be able to
resist the imposition of a pro-Vichy Government. General de Gaulle
[6] has [7] received communications from people of New Caledonia
indicating that the great majority of the people of the colony are
actively on his side though possibly the Governor and most but not
all of the Administration remain pro-Vichy. Commonwealth
Government telegram No. 426 also indicates that the overwhelming
majority of the population is on the side of de Gaulle. As
indicated in the message from de Gaulle to the French Resident
Commissioner of the New Hebrides repeated to Commonwealth
Government in my telegram under reference, de Gaulle proposes that
latter should go to New Caledonia and de Gaulle has now asked
whether one of H.M. ships could take him. If this could be
arranged and the immediate return of the DUMONT D'URVILLE to
Papeete could be secured, there seems reason to believe that de
Gaulle elements in the colony would be encouraged to depose the
Governor and declare openly against Vichy. New Caledonia falls
within the limits of the Australian naval station and any naval
action in these waters would therefore be a matter for the R.A.N.

The Admiralty understand that, while other ships at the disposal
of the Australian Naval Board of sufficient fighting value to
overawe the DUMONT D'URVILLE are engaged on other services,
H.M.A.S. ADELAIDE should be available. In these circumstances we
should like to suggest to the Commonwealth Government that the
ADELAIDE be sent at once to the New Hebrides to embark the French
Resident Commissioner, proceeding thence to Noumea with
instructions to bring about as quickly as possible the return of
the DUMONT D'URVILLE to Papeete. We do not contemplate that it
would be desirable or necessary for H.M.A.S. ADELAIDE to use
actual force against the French war vessel, certainly not at
present. What we should rather hope would be that her mere
presence would reinforce the determination and efforts of the
anti-Vichy party and that she would support the French Resident
Commissioner in giving that party desired encouragement. Result
may be to enable the local population to arrange their affairs in
a manner satisfactory to ourselves without need for any overt
intervention by us. But this process may of course take a little
time during which the ADELAIDE can stay and report developments.

If there were disturbances in the New Hebrides [sic] [8] the
ADELAIDE could perhaps lend support to the extent of a landing
party, basing action on unsettled conditions and necessity of
protection of British interests. Having regard to the attitude
already taken in regard to developments in the New Hebrides and in
French Equatorial Africa and the Cameroons, we should not consider
this step as likely seriously to increase the risk of war with the
Vichy Government.

We should be grateful if you would explain the position at once to
the Commonwealth Government and ask them to consider urgently, in
the light of any reports which they may have received from Ballard
[9] in New Caledonia or from the High Commissioner for the Western
Pacific [10] now en route to Noumea, whether they could take
action on the lines suggested.