The World : France Snubs Australians

France indefinitely suspended all official visits involving Australia in response to that country’s lobbying for the independence of the French territory of New Caledonia. A Foreign Ministry statement said the action was taken “because of the unfriendly attitude of the Australian government in recent months toward French policy in the South Pacific, particularly concerning New Caledonia.” The Australian newspaper Financial Review recently reported that Australia lobbied to have the United Nations include New Caledonia on a list published in December of territories it recommends be granted independence.