An unofficial referendum on whether to support the Free French or the Vichy régime was held in the French Oceanian islands of Mo'orea and Tahiti on 24 August 1940.[1] The referendum was held following a call from Charles de Gaulle to oppose the Vichy government on 18 June, and was organised by the underground Free France Committee.[1]
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 Frédéric Chastenet de Géry [fr] was forced to resign on 2 September.[1] 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.[2]Peter Fraser, the Prime Minister of New Zealand also sent a telegram noting great satisfaction at the result.[3] The new administration on the islands lifted the ban on British shipping, allowing imports of food.[4] 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.
