A referendum on becoming an
overseas territory was held in
Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands (; french: Wallis-et-Futuna or ', Fakauvea and Fakafutuna: '), is a French island collectivity in the South Pacific, situated between Tuvalu to the northwest, Fiji ...
on 27 December 1959.
[Conversion to Overseas Territory]
Direct Democracy The proposal was approved by 94.37% of voters.
[ Every voter on Wallis voted in favour, whilst all but three of the votes against the proposal were cast in the ]Futuna Islands
The Hoorn Islands (also Futuna Islands) are one of the two island groups of which the French overseas collectivity (''collectivité d'outre-mer'', or ''COM'') of Wallis and Futuna is geographically composed. The aggregate area is 115 km², an ...
. (There were expatriates who voted while in New Caledonia
)
, anthem = ""
, image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of New Caledonia
, map_caption = Location of New Caledonia
, mapsize = 290px
, subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...
and the New Hebrides
New Hebrides, officially the New Hebrides Condominium (french: link=no, Condominium des Nouvelles-Hébrides, "Condominium of the New Hebrides") and named after the Hebrides Scottish archipelago, was the colonial name for the island group ...
.)[
The islands were and have continued to be part of France. At the time, they were a French ]protectorate
A protectorate, in the context of international relations, is a State (polity), state that is under protection by another state for defence against aggression and other violations of law. It is a dependent territory that enjoys autonomy over m ...
. A year and a half after the referendum — on 29 July 1961, the islands officially became an overseas territory.
Results
References
{{Wallis and Futuna elections
1959 in Wallis and Futuna
1959 referendums
Referendums in Wallis and Futuna
December 1959 events in Oceania
Autonomy referendums