811.24546/35: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Nouméa (MacVitty)
25. Your 28, November 21, 11 p.m. War Department has been informed by the Australians that they are proceeding with construction [Page 583] at Nouméa in accordance with the general plan. Commanding General Hawaiian Department is in charge of this matter and authority has been given by all other Governments for him to deal directly with local authorities. We feel that he should deal directly with the Free French Government in Nouméa or some particular person designated by it. It is the State Department’s policy to deal with local Free French authorities in the territories which they administer.