The New Hebrides.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14909, 6 March 1914, Page 6

The New Hebrides.

That the present position of affairs in the New Hebrides is bad for everybody concerned, and especially for the natives, is admitted by every impartial person who is in possession of the Tacts. Some of the complaint, against the French may be exaggerated, but there is conclusive evidence to our miri. that, while British subjects are compelled to observe the law in regard to recruiting, the supply of drink and arms to the natives, and so forth, because the British authorities sco that it i s enforced against them, a good deal of laxity is shown by the French authorities, and even when sentence is recorded against their compatriots, it is not infrequently a matter of form, owing to its not actually being carried into effect. Again, the practice of reserving tho moro important criminal an_"otner cases for decision uy a joint Naval Commission, is cumbrous and unsatisfactory. It is particularly unjust as regards the unhappy natives committed for trial, since they are sometimes waiting for months until tho happy conjuncture of a British and French warship both being on the spot at the same time, happens to occur. The Condominium stands condemned on even* hand. Such

an arrangement never answers. Nothing could be more unsatisfactory tnan the tripartite system of government, which prevailed in Samoa until Germany anil the United States agree, to partition the islands, and Great Britain was" practically squeezed out of the arrangement, and left to find inadequate corn-

pensation elsewhere. It i s not easy to say how the present dif_ic*i!*_r can bo solved. The best solution, no doubt, would be arrived at if tho French would

agree to dispose of their interests to the British, but it is to be feared that national sentiment will stand in the way of this short cut. An exchange of territory could take place withe 8 .; any sacrifice of national pride, but it is not easy to suggest an arrangement of the kind which will give satistactfon to both sides, ft is a matter of very serious

importance that tho present system should bo replaced by some better arrangement. The interests of New Zealand and Australia are practically identical, and we hope that - fr 3lassey will co-operate with the Prime Minister of Australia in urging Lite views of the Commonwealth and the Dominion upon the British Government, in connexion with the conference which is about to take place.