RIVALS IN PACIFIC.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 416, 27 January 1909, Page 7

RIVALS IN PACIFIC.

GERMANY'S GROWTH.;

A 'WELL-DEFENDED NAVAL STATION.

NEED- FOR -VIGILANCE. (BY TRIEOBArir—mEGS 'ASSOCIATION— COPTniOHT.) . , ' Vancouver, January 25. Major Daniels,- an' American scientist, who has arrived at Vancouver from New Guinea, urges Britons to ;.watcli Germany's growing power in the Pacific.Ho states, that a strong naval base has been established at Simonshaven, and the defences of the fort aro quite formidable. - : NEW CALEDONIA. DESIRE FOR AUSTRALIAN TRADE. •-,. .. ,' ■ -Sydney, January 26. , News from Noumoa (capital of tho French colony of New Caledonia) states that a large, mooting had been held at which it was resolved to demand local self-government. Political opinion aims at the abolition of tho tariff, and the,opening up of-an Australian trade. . : • . 1 MINEBAL INDUSTRI ES.-A POSSIBLE RECIPROCITY,' GEEMAN AND JAPANESE AIMS. A New Caledonia resident, writing to tho: "Sydney Morning Herald," points out.how the: mineral industries of New Caledonia and Aus--trolia coul(f be ivorked together advantageously. He saysi— •»':> ■ ■ v-I-vjv, y: ''The nickeland,chrome .interests are 'almost • a menojpoly. Krupp, of Essen,-has lately be(?un to buy nickel ore direct from hsre, and jt is known that the; nickel of Oanada is not suitable ; for . their 1 ' works. It "may he . said .that' niokelTchrome-cohalt and iron aro hero in ini exhaustible quantities, but no workable coal so far as-is.'known.' The mining industries of Now Caledonia wad' Australia could therofore be advantageously .worked' in oonjunetion." The correspondent urges , that the time has arrived for'a decided move to be mado in the direction of. annexation by: Australia, and. thus: anticipate Germany and Japan. Both cf .theso nations,., he' thinks, look with, envy tin New i Caledoniaj for nickel, chrome, cobalt, and iron deposits do notr met in territories controlled by them. The fact that- Japan possesses supplies of coal for smeltine purposes would make New Caledonia, ho thinks, a: very desirable dopendency. ANNEXATION TO COMMONWEALTH. On tho subject of annexation, by Australia, the Correspondent also writes ;r-"The' commercial position is getting more difficult evory day,, infact. so much so that it is .the; general wish; especially, of the property.owners in' town and country, to come under the jurisdiction-of ; the Commonwealth. This: is not hearsay, but an absolute fact- In short, 'I do not see -that the'. Government-should have any-interest ,in keep--ing.the colony going, as it is quite, understood thart : ; the convict , element will be,.withdrawn ! within,'the next-:tw> or three years. Under existing, conditions, however, this would causa almost the total stoppage .of the circulation: of ; money. "I feel- sure .-that -the- time' has, come when if 1 a -reasonable proposition were made- ; to: the French Government,-: it iwouU, .bo'?;t»ken ; into; consideration.Such {a,;movement: would,, include all the": islands, under- the 'French' flag' between' New, Caledonia- and Tahiti, and leave a clear road' to- San, Franoisco and the Panama Canal." ' 'The financial' find industrial stagnation of •New\Caledonia has now roaohed such au acute stags • (writes the /'Sydney > Morning .Herald"),: and tho indignation against; the Government of France- on ; account'-of -its .apathetic.iattitude has'become's? intense that there is a-geheral outcry among French : and British .residents alike for the annexation of, the colony by Australia, - The - proposal : was first : mooted two - or three, years:ago,.and,tho movement haS'erpwii, until at' the<;present; moment:;'practically the whole- of the: people look to the Commonwealth to save tjipm- "from absolute ruin." •iK ■"" 1 . . I