1918-1939 History of the Pacific Islands Independence, since 1980




Stamps issued for the New Hebrides by the British Postal Administration.



Vanuatu (the New Hebrides), 1939-1980



During World War II, the New Hebrides saved as a base for the U.S. Navy. The presence of U.S. soldiers had a strong impact on the islanders. A political movement emerged which criticized the fact that 1/3 of the islands' land was owned by (relatively few) westerners. At the PARIS CONFERENCE of 1977, independence was agreed upon, and it was proclaimed in 1980. An attempt to separate ESPIRITU SANTO as an independent island (1980) failed.



EXTERNAL
FILES 		History of Vanuatu, from Vanuatu.net
Scottish Missionaries and the Governance of the New Hebrides, article by J.H. Proctor in the Journal of Church and State spring 1999, posted by Britannica
DOCUMENTS Flag of the Free French administration 1940-1945, from FOTW, Flag of the British Resident Commissioner 1906-1980, from FOTW
REFERENCE



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted on January 13th 2002, last revised on November 5th 2004

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