Rock of contention
Subtitle: Free French and Americans at war in New Caledonia, 1940-1945
By: Kim Munholland.
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Published: 2005
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 251
Subjects: France combattante; World War, 1939-1945 -- New Caledonia; United States -- Foreign relations -- France; France -- Foreign relations -- United States; New Caledonia -- History -- 20th century
Description: "What went wrong in Free French relations with Americans during World War Two? Two peoples, presumably sharing a common cause in a war to defeat the axis powers, often found themselves locked in bitter disputes that exposed fundamental differences in outlook and intentions during the war, creating a profound misunderstanding or mesantente that was a major source of Franco-American conflict during the war and has persisted since then. The site for this dispute was the South Pacific colony of New Caledonia. By carefully documenting French policy toward the American presence in New Caledonia during the war, the author demonstrates the existence of a deep-seated suspicion, fear, even paranoia about the Americans that colored almost every phase of Free French policy.

Revising traditional views, the author lays bare the roots of the antagonism, which stem from perceptions and biases."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.