An unofficial referendum on whether to support the

Free French Free France () was a resistance government claiming to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third French Republic, Third Republic during World War II. Led by General , Free France was established as a gover ...

or the Vichy régime was held in the French Oceanian islands of Mo'orea and

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian language, Tahitian , ; ) is the largest island of the Windward Islands (Society Islands), Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located in the central part of t ...

on 24 August 1940.Tahiti, 24. August 1940: Unterstützung von Vichy / Freies Frankreich
Direct Democracy The referendum was held following a call from

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free France, Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Re ...

to oppose the Vichy government on 18 June, and was organised by the underground Free France Committee. Over 99% of voters supported backing the Free French Forces, with just 18 people voting in favour of the Vichy regime. Following the referendum, the pro-Vichy governor was forced to resign on 2 September. On the same day the Free France Committee formed the Provisional Council of Oceania to rule the island group, which was recognised by De Gaulle by a telegram sent from London.

Peter Fraser Peter Fraser (; 28 August 1884 – 12 December 1950) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 24th prime minister of New Zealand from 27 March 1940 until 13 December 1949. Considered a major figure in the history of the New Zealand Lab ...

, the

Prime Minister of New Zealand The prime minister of New Zealand () is the head of government of New Zealand. The prime minister, Christopher Luxon, leader of the New Zealand National Party, took office on 27 November 2023. The prime minister (informally abbreviated to P ...

also sent a telegram noting great satisfaction at the result. The new administration on the islands lifted the ban on British shipping, allowing imports of food."Various" ''The Times'', 14 September 1940, p3, issue 48721 Only French citizens were eligible to vote in the referendum, meaning the overwhelming majority of the population on both islands was excluded from participation, including virtually the entire native population.

Results

References

French Oceania 1940 in the French colonial empire 1940s in French Polynesia Referendums in French Polynesia French colonial empire in World War II French Oceanian referendum {{Oceania-hist-stub