World Notes New Caledonia

In the past year, 22 people have been killed in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, where native Melanesians seeking an independent nation are pitted against French settlers who want rule by Paris to continue. But there was surprising calm last week when voters chose a 46-member territorial congress as the first step in France's plan to give New Caledonia greater autonomy before a referendum on limited independence is held in 1987. The peaceful balloting was due in part to 162 French magistrates who served as poll watchers, and 3,500 French gendarmes.

Although three French loyalist parties won nearly 61% of the popular vote, their strength was concentrated in and around the capital of Noumea, which constitutes only one of the island's four electoral districts. The radical pro-independence party of Melanesian natives, or Kanaks, gained administrative control of the other three districts. In Paris, conservative opposition parties promised that if they wrest control of the French National Assembly from the Socialists next March, New Caledonians will be asked simply: Do you want to remain French?