ABSTRACT
The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior damaged France’s reputation throughout the South Pacific. In an attempt to restore its image and spread goodwill in the Island countries, France has embarked on a public relations offensive of cultural exchanges and grants, its centrepiece being a new francophone university to be built in Tahiti and New Caledonia. The territory remains heavily subsidised by France today, importing far more than it exports. This subsidised standard of living, far higher in terms of cash than neighbouring countries such as the Cook Islands or Western Samoa, is the price France willingly pays for its nuclear test centre; and it is a price which has been high enough to weaken and contain, though by no means destroy, the independence movement. The timid and respectful diplomatic notes sent to France by conservative governments in Australia and New Zealand had achieved nothing except perhaps to earn the scorn of the French.
