Japanese in New Caledonia.

12-6-43

File No.

White Poppy.
Dec. 24, 1942.

From: U. S. Naval Liaison Officer
To: Director of Naval Intelligence.
Subject: Japanese in New Caledonia.
Information: COMSOPAC; COMADNAVBASES, South Pacific Area.

1. Speaking only of theose generally known, there are still a number of full-blooded (naturalized) Japanese in New Caledonia, and many half-castes. They lead fairly normal lives and recieve American soldiers and sell them licquor, most of it of a particularly noxious kind. Half-caste Japanese serve in the French military and naval forces, communication servieces, and even the staff of the French High Commissionar. Half-caste Japanese girls  are associating on intimate terms with American soldiers and officers, French wives and mistresses of departed Japanese (including intelligence officers) are numerous, some of them associating on intimate terms with American officers.

2. Full-blooded Japanese. Okada is a naturalized Japanese of pro-Japanaese and anti-American sentiments living in the Trianon district (suburb of Noumea) where he has a salt works. He is married to a somewhat simple-minded French woman and is the father of several children. Okada went to Japan about five years ago for a period of one year. A the request of M. Monsard, the French army quartermaster, Okada was not interred, on the basis that there was no one else available to make the salt required by the quartermaster department,  M. Monsard is one of  a pro-Vichy clique, but it is not thought there is any ulterior motive behind his request. Okada owns a pair of binoculars. His anti-American statements are a matter of record. For some time he went almost daily to Magenta where there is another salt works, but since the arrival of American forces there he has been arrested several times by American soldiers. He has been advised by the Police Commissioner that he is not to leave his home. He has recently been receiving American soldiers regularly at his house, and was also visited by one of the Japanese interpreters serving with the U.S. forces here.

3. Nawa, who has a store on the corner of the  Avenue du Marschal Foch and the Rue de Verdun, is naturalized, and married to a Mlle. Rabdeau, an intelligent woman. He is the father of several children. Nawa was not interned like other Japanese, but after the Americans arrived he was required to remain in his home. He observes this rule meticulously. His business is being carried on by a son and a daughter.

4. Sakamoto, who is said to be a former officer in the Japanese army, was formerly a truck farmer at Magenta, close to the former Pan-Air radio station. He was naturalized and married to a French woman and has several children, including two sons under arms with the French forces here. Sakamoto drew attention to himself by his pro-Japanese sentiments and when the Japanese Consul arrived in New Caledonia, he was at the head of the delegation representing the Japanese Colony, which went to the pier. Sakamoto was interned for several months when he lost his French nationality according to the decree of February 10, 1942. For the last three or four months he has been a patient - Noumea - suffering from a bladder complaint. He does not appear to be very ill, lives in a first class ward, walks about and visits with other Japanese patients, talking in Japanese. He is also visited by his wife and daughter and receives mail, including letters from Japanese interned in Australia, and French people up the island.

5. Shiramidsu, Ogusiku,  and Nakamura are three other full-blooded Japanese at the Colonial Hospital . These three and Sakamoto are supposed to be under surveillance at the insane asylum on Ile Nou, but because of the n?ed for treatment, are at the hospital. They are supposed to be suffering from venereal diseases and confined to their rooms, but as a practical matter have freedom of movement, including access to the verandah, within the hospital. The verandah  has a vie3w of the port. Shiramidzu has a French wife at La Foa.  She had been  seeing a great deal fo the Americans and recently asked for a divorce. The request was not granted.

--1--

6. Matsuda is a naturalized Japanese, who lives in Dumbea (Popini?re) where he as property. He has a family at Noumea consisting of five daughters and two sons. He has been married twice, once to a Japanese, once to an Annamite. The latter is still in Noumea. Matsuda is confined to his property.

7. There are three other naturalized Japanese on the island: Sumioka, at Pouombout; Yoshizumi, at Kone; Horio, at Thio. The leper coloon t Ducos Peninsula boasts one, Sasaki.

8. Half-Caste Japanese. There are more than fifty half-caste Japanese men and women at large. These include:

9. Yvette Nawa, daughter of the Nawa previously mentioned. She sees many American and has apparently been intimate with an American warrant Officer. Details are available in the files of the U. S. Naval Liaison officer. News of the movements of a certain ship were traced to Yvette Nawa, who learned of them through an American in the Nawa shop.

10. The son of the Nawa family of a Fighting French sailor who, unlike most half-castes, speaks the Japanese language fluently. He has been studying communications; was in the Fighting French Marine Headquarters for sever months and when last checked, was on the Fighting French naval vessel "Cap des Palmes." This ship visited Espiritu Santo during American naval operations, and was ordered out by Admiral Ghormley.

11. The Yoshida girls are half-castes who are "intelligent, intriguing, and captivating." The father of these girls is dead, and they are often known as the Tsutsui girls because of their step-father Tsutsui, an important merchant, now in Australia. Emma Yoshida is the concubine of Angelo Biga; Henriette Yoshida  is the wife of Eyssartier, a corporal attached to the French High Commissioner's personal staff; Marguerite Yoshida  is the concubine of Harbulot, Jean Desmazures, "Chef des Contributions" and an officer in the Noumea militia, is also said to have intercourse with Marguerite.

12. Maeda  is a half-caste about thirty years of age. His father was Japanese and his mother Javaneses. He had been employed at the chrome mines as foreman and worker and have been before the Noumea court for several violations, including theft. He is supposed to have told the Chief of Police that the events of May 5-10 (the "second revolution") were instigated by the English and Americans.

13. Lucien More is half-Japanese; his father is interned in Australia.

14. Irene Kourabawa  is a half-caste Japanese who lives with Georges Ventrillon. There is one son about eight years old. Georges is the younger of two brothers operating a store in Noumea under the name of Ventrillon Fr?res, who have been agents for various German and Japanese grims, specializing in cameras and radio. They are also interested in a sandwich shop next to their own shop, which caters to American soldiers. Georges has strong anti-British and anti-American sentiments.

15. Suguira  is the son of a naturalized Japanese merchant formerly established at Thio, now intered on Ile Nou. He is a soldier in the Colonial Infantry. He made an effort to have himself recognizeds as of Japanese nationality. Governor Sautot wished to intern him. Before he was mobilized, Admiral d'Argenlieu gave him a certificate to the effect that he would not be called upon to fight the Japanese in case of an invasin, according to a report believed to be reliable.

--2--

16. For the record, the following half-catds are other places up the island: Pouombot, Kinoshita,  one son; Kone, Fokuda,  6 children; Yoshimura, two children; Matsuoka,  two children; Tannak,  one child; Yaishia,   one child; Tomiki,  five children; Tokitchi, one child; Kadooka,  three children; Maeda, one child; Voh, Nakano,  five children; Morooka,  two children; Mataki,  six children; Fukutaro,  one child; Morihara,  one child; Nekokiti, one child; Zira, one child; Zanziro, one child; Maeda, six children; Utonari, one child; Fokuhara, seven children; Kustaro, two children. This list is incomplete; further names will be reported in an appendix to this report, to butne in later, if ascertainable.

17. In addition to those mentioned, the half-caste group includes the two sons of Sakamoto, the five daughters and two sons of Matsuda, and the daughters of Okada.

18. Consideration should also be given to the Frenchy wives of deported or interned Japanese, or of those confined to their residences. In this group there is Mme. Nawa, n?e Rabdeau, considered to be an intelligent woman; Mme. Matsuda, and Mme. Matsuyama. More accurately, the concubine of Matsuyama, this woman, n?e Dani?le Lemerle, later married another Japanese, name Siki. By Siki she had two daughters. This family lives in the Deuxi?me Vall?e du Tir, rue Pall?e de la Barri?re. Americans are in the house all day long.

19. Jeannet Petre is connected with the Japanese through his affair with the the youngest daughter of Mme. Kitazawa.* However, he is considered to be loyal.  Mme. Kitazawa, n?e Fouquest, was the daughter of a French consul to Tokyo and a Japanese mother. Very given to intrigue, and with important mining interest, she was officially considered to be in the Japanese intelligence Service. She organized a company which bought the Island of Art, to the north of New Caledonia, paying 1,000,000 francs for rights which should not have been  worth 100,000. This island is frequently visited by Japanese fishermen.

20. The following mistresses of deported Japanese are worthy of consideration:Mme. Perraud, n?e Besse, the wife of an officer in the Fighting French forces now in Libya, was the mistrees of Ishido, an engin?er of the Soci?t? Mini?re de l'Oc?ane, and considered to be an agent of the Japanese Intelligence Service. When Ishido's property was seized, a book was found containing information regarding the defense of New Caledonia. (Paragraph 9)

21. Mme. Larocque, n?e Chodzo, (according to reports believed to be reliable) was the mistress of Iba, also a Japanese engin?er in the Soci?t? Mini?re de l'Oc?anie. Iba was considered to be the chief agent in Noumea of the Japanese Intelligence Service. She is employed by the Nickel Co.

22. Mme. Baudoux, at Houailous, whose husband is fighting in Libya, is reliably reported to have been the mistress of several Japanese of the same caliber. She is also said to be loay.

23. The following French person in Noumea were closely indentified with the Japanese:

(a) George Duchosal, a member of the Noumea Chamber of Commerce and one of the directors of Barrau's. Has worked with the Japanese and is supposed to have Fascist ideas. His wife was secretary to the Japanese Consul.

(b) Raymon Rougon was the former secretary of Mme. Kitazawa. A close friend of Duchosal and related to him through his marriage. Rougon was mobilized in the Navy and put in charge of the radio and observation post at Cap N'dua, near Goro, and also at Amed?e lighthouse. He used to visit the Duchosal property at Plum and from there go out to a little island named Le Fourei, where he is reliably reported to have a radio transmitter. He was interned and then sent to Australia. Mme. Rougon, still here, is friendly with Americans.

--3--

(c) Mme. Mouren is connected with the Kitazama family through the marriage of her son with the oldest Kitazawa girl. The girl was wit child at the time of the marriage. Mouren worked for Mme. Kitazawa and travelled with the family to Japan. Expelled from the Colony, he is now said to be in Indo-China.

24. Full-blooded Japanese interned in the insane asylum on Ile Nou, as listed 17/9/42 comprise: Akami, Fukama, Ide, Ikewa, Ishibashi, Jaan, Kaira, Kinoshita,  Kosaku, Kono, Maeda, Matsuoka, Nakajima, Nakamura, Oghino, Ogurhiku, Omai, Sakamoto K., Sakamoto I., Sakiama, Shinzato, Shiramidzu, Sugira, Tamagusuku, Tanaka K., Tanaka S., Yoshida, Watanabe, Yoshimura. All are over 53 years old.

A. K. TRAIN

Lieut., USNR I-V(S)

U.S.N.L.O.

--4--