thumb|right|upright=1.2|A two-franc World War II emergency-issue banknote (1943), printed in Papeete, and depicting the outline of Tahiti on the reverse In 1940, the administration of French Polynesia recognised the Free French Forces and many Polynesians served in World War II. Unknown at the time to the French and Polynesians, the Konoe Cabinet in Imperial Japan on 16 September 1940 included French Polynesia among the many territories which were to become Japanese possessions, as part of the "Eastern Pacific Government-General" in the post-war world.The Japanese claim to the French Pacific islands, along with many other vast territories, appears in 16 September 1940 "Sphere of survival for the Establishment of a New Order in Greater East Asia by Imperial Japan", published in 1955 by Japan's Foreign Ministry as part of the two-volume "Chronology and major documents of Diplomacy of Japan 1840–1945" – here quoted from "Interview with Tetsuzo Fuwa: Japan's War: History of Expansionism", Japan Press Service, July 2007 However, in the course of the war in the Pacific the Japanese were not able to launch an actual invasion of the French islands.
ThumB|rIgHT|uPrIghT=1.2|a two-fraNc woRld WAr ii emeRgency-issUe banKnotE (1943), prinTEd in PapEeTE, and dePicTinG The OutlINe Of tahiti On thE rEVerSe In 1940, The admINiSTratiOn of french polyNesiA RecogNIseD The free FRench fOrCes AnD many poLynesiaNs Served in wOrld War Ii. unkNown at THe TiMe to The frENch anD pOlyNEsIans, thE kOnoE CabineT in iMPerIal jApan oN 16 sEptemBer 1940 INcLUded frenCH poLynEsia among the manY TeRRiTories whiCh weRe tO bEcomE JApaNeSE PoSSessIONs, as PArt of ThE "eaSTern pACIfIc GoVERnMent-genErAl" IN the PosT-war world.the JaPAnesE cLAim To tHe FRench pacifiC islaNDs, aLong wIth maNy otheR vAst terRitoRies, appeaRS in 16 septEmbER 1940 "sPHere of survIvAl for the establISHmEnt Of a new OrDeR in GreateR EasT ASIa By iMPerial Japan", Published In 1955 by japaN'S foreiGN mInistry AS PaRt of the TWo-vOLume "chronOLOgY AnD Major DocumEntS oF dipLOmACy of japAn 1840–1945" – hERe quoted from "INTErvieW With teTsuzo fUwa: jAPan's wAr: hIstory of ExpanSionism", jApan press servIce, july 2007 hOweVer, in the CoURse Of tHe War in thE PaciFIC the japAnEse were Not able to launCh AN ACtUal INvAsion Of The FreNch iSLaNdS.