MOROCCAN SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 85, 9 April 1906, Page 5

MOROCCAN SETTLEMENT.

EFFECT ON ANGLO-FRENCH AGREEMENT. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, April 7. It is anticipated in political circles that Great Britain will afford France some territorial compensation in West Africa, owing to the French having a les3 free band in Morocco than Britain has in Egypt. The Agents-General are i watching the position so as to prevent any lessening of Australian rights, in the New Hebrides, though there is no sign of any concessions being granted there. THE CABLE QUESTION.; EASTERK EXTENSION VIEWS. (By Cable.—Fr«ss Association.—Copyright.) (Received -0.27 a-ni.} MELBOURNE, April S. The Eastern Extension Company intends to test the legality of the Federal Government's action. Meanwhile the company will close its Melbourne oflice, in accordance with the Government's direction. MELBOURNE, this day. A circular issued by the Australian manager of the Eastern Extension Cable states that his company has decided that it is morally bound to comply with the Government's request to cease collecting cablegrams. Meantime legal opinion is being taken. Most of the company's staff of operators and other employees will probably be transferred to other stations. In a letter to the postal authorities Mr Hesse, general manager, contended that the Senate's amendment was contrary | both to the spirit r.nd the letter of the \ Federal agreement, fcut the company was desirous of working amicably with the J department, and was firmly of opinion! ] that an agreement could be made which, i while preserving the independence and I autonomy of the Pacific cable, would pro- • duce marked financial and other adyantfages to all the Governments interested in that enterprise. EXTENSION MANAGER'S LETTER. . (Received 11.38 a.m.) j j MELBOURNE, this day. The Chairman of Directors of the Eastern Extension Company, in a letter to Mr Deakin, points out the inconvenience that will be caused to commercial inter-1 ests by closing their Melbourne office. He hints at the possibility that the ac- j tion of the Government was taken in order to deteriorate the Eastern Company's service, with a view to securing more business for tie Pacific, thereby reducing Australasia J s annual loss of £30,000 over the Pacific cable. Complaint lis also made that since the opening of j the Pacific cable all unrouted traffic between Australia and Great Britain has been given to that line. Another comj plaint is the refusal by Government offi- ! cers to accept te l egrams marked via j Eastern It is suggested that this is not j legal. He suggests-. "Should it not be J beyond their resourcefulness, the Federal l Government and the company could dejvise in consultation some scheme which j would diminish aud ultimately extinguish the financial loss now accruing to Australia from the Pacific, and also guarantee the Pacific enterprise against the results of possible interruption." The i Government and ib.e company might, it rj is urged, find a nratuajly acceptable soi! lution.