New Caledonia Focus of Mitterrand-Chirac Discord : French Leaders Clash Over Islands

French President Francois Mitterrand and Premier Jacques Chirac, in an unusual show of discord, clashed Wednesday over the Chirac government’s policy toward the troubled South Pacific territory of New Caledonia.

At a Cabinet meeting, Mitterrand, a Socialist, accused the conservative government of increasing tension and “delaying the necessary reconciliation” between the native Melanesian people and the white French residents on the islands. He warned Chirac against committing “a serious historical error.”

In defense, Chirac said his government has no intention of “setting Caldoches (as the whites are called) and Kanaks (as the Melanesians are called) against each other” and will “initiate a real dialogue aimed at the coexistence of all members of the Caledonian community.”

Pushing for Referendum

The Chirac government has been pushing for a referendum among the islands’ voters to determine the territory’s future status, and after the Mitterrand-Chirac exchange, the Cabinet voted to propose such a referendum to the French National Assembly, to be held by August. Mitterrand’s objections were directed less at the referendum than at the breakdown of relations between the Chirac government and the pro-independence party in the territory.

Mitterrand’s criticism and Chirac’s reply, relayed from the closed meeting by press officers, marked one of the sharpest disagreements between the two men since parliamentary elections almost a year ago left the positions of president and premier in the hands of politicians of opposing ideologies. Much of this period has been marked by a surprising demonstration of cooperation and compromise.

The sharpness of Mitterrand’s tone seemed to reflect the disquiet among Socialists and others in Paris over reports that Bernard Pons, the militantly right-wing minister of overseas territories, had alienated the Melanesian independence leaders on the islands.

The problem of New Caledonia is complicated by the makeup of its population of 145,000. The native Melanesians, although the largest ethnic group in the territory, make up only 43% of the population. They are outnumbered by the combination of whites, who are almost as numerous, and the Polynesians, Indians and others. The Melanesians insist that most of the others are newcomers who have no right to decide the fate of New Caledonia, but the proposed legislation would allow anyone with three years of residence on the island to vote in the referendum.

Violence Killed 20

After widespread violence left more than 20 people dead in 1984, the previous Socialist government proposed a referendum on a special form of independence in continued legal association with France. To satisfy immediate demands for self-government, the Socialists also devised a system of four regional assemblies. Since most of the white and non-Melanesian vote is concentrated in the territorial capital of Noumea, the independence party, the Socialist Kanak Front for National Liberation, won control of three of the assemblies in 1985.

But the Kanak Front leaders of the assemblies have complained that the Chirac government has systematically deprived them of any authority, and party leaders have refused to meet with Pons, the overseas minister. In turn, Pons, in what sounds to many critics like an echo of old French colonial days, has insisted that it was not necessary for him to negotiate with the independence party since, according to him, it does not represent the true aspirations of the Melanesian people.

“The great majority of people have confidence and are happy,” said Pons.

On top of this, Pons does not plan to offer a choice of independence-association in the referendum. Instead, voters will have to choose between remaining a part of France or total independence and rupture with France. That kind of choice, in the Chirac government’s view, would make it more difficult for a Caledonian to vote for independence.