The Evening Star. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1888.

Evening Star, Issue 7429, 26 January 1888, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1888.

The Federal Council have adopted an Address to the Queen in which they direct attention and coni)nuirer. 6 sideration to “the grievous wrong inflicted on Australasia ” by the continued deportation of French criminals to the Pacific, It would seem that the substance has been sacrificed to the shadow, in that France has been constrained under pressure to withdraw from the New Hebrides, but is in no respect pledged in regard to deporting recidivistoe to the Pacific. The French Government were quite willing to have engaged to stop this once and for all, on condition of being allowed possession of the New Hebrides, but the proposition was scouted by the Australian colonies, and the consequence is that the New Hebrides remain a sort of no man’s land ; whilst Australasia may be indefinitely subject to the mischievous nuisance of escapees from the galleys—foreign desperadoes of the very worst type. The Address sets forth that notwithstanding the strong representations of the Imperial Government on behalf of the colonics, further shipments of convicts to New Caledonia have taken place under the Habitual Criminals Law, and it would seem to be the intention to continue this system of transportation. It is admitted, the Address goes on to say, that New Caledonia cannot absorb the criminal population thus consigned to it. “ Numbers of the worst “ criminals effect their escape by crossing “the smooth seas intervening, and land on “the Australian coast; while a large_ pro- “ portion of the convicts, after serving a “ portion of the period of their sentences, “ are entitled to freedom, and enabled to “ leave the island for our shores.” The result, in the natural order of things must be, it is affirmed, that these persona will not be settled in New' Caledonia, but will only be passed through it more or leas rapidly to adjacent countries, in a proportion that will be yearly increasing. “As the convicts become entitled to their “ discharge, they will inevitably draft into “and throughout the communities w r e “(the Federal Council) represent, together “with the other Australasian peoples.” The undoubted sovereign right _of any country to use its own territory as it pleases is admitted, subject, hotvov’er, to the “ qualification, equally good in private and “ and international law, that it does not “constitute it a menace, and that to its “neighbors.” The Council submit to Her Majesty that if the representations of the Australasian colonies remain without effect, measures for self-defence will be necessarily forced upon them, “ which they would “ regret to have to direct against any “Power at friendship with your Majesty, “but which we have no doubt, in the ex- “ ceptional circumstances above set forth, will “ receive your Majesty’s ready sanction.” It may be remembered that three years ago a very broad hint was given to the Imperial Government that the colonies might find it necessary to take very decisive action to protect themselves. Sir Dillon Pell, in a despatch dated July 21st, marked “Confidential,” but subsequently published, informed the then Premier that he had been Wesired by his colleagues, the other AgentsTieneral, to call Colonel Stanley’s [then Secretary Sor the Colonies] special attention to the question of tho coloniancgislation likely to follow upon the passing of the Recidivists Act by the French Assembly. “We assured Colonel Stanley,” said Sir Dillon, “ of the continued determination of “ all the colonies not to be subjected to the “ dangers of an invasion by French crimi- “ nalsj and, while we recognised that it “ would bo improper on our parts _to “put hypothetical questions respecting “ the course which Her Majesty’s Govern“ment might hereafter be called upon “to take, and acknowledge the necessity “for the Imperial authority being un- “ fettered by specific promises beforehand in “ a matter involving international ..omplica“tion with France, we asked, the “ other hand, for a recognition of the rights “of the colonies to protect themselves “against what might otherwise become an “ irremediable calamity.” Colonel Stanley replied, it appears, with due official reticence, avoiding the main point whether Her Majesty would he advised to assent to any 4-ota which might be passed by the Colonial L,egisJat,vr.c.s for the prevention of the influx of French criminals. He, however, assured the Agcnts-General of the “hearty sympathy of Her Majesty’s pre“sent Government (Lord S.j.u.sfiujvr was “then in office) with tho colonies je- “ specting the recidiviste question.” The Federal Council are evidently of opinion that some more definite understanding should he arrived at. The Address is skiU’uli.v grafted so as to place the Imperial Government in this dilemma, either that they must take energetic action in appealing to France to discontinue what is correctly stigmatised as “a grave national evil and wrong,” or they must bo prepared to allow the colonies to take such measures as tfcey may individually consider necessary for their own protection—a course which undoubtedly wight involve international troubles. . , „ ~ Under the Recidiviste Aev tho Government of France practically turn her mwfijal population loose upon the world, and that in the neighborhood of civilised and rising communities. There may be a legal right to do this, but it is not the a grave violation of international obligation and duty. The case was admirably put in a letter which appeared in 1 The Times ’ (London) so long ago as February, 1884, and was reprinted in a New Zealand Parliamentary paper. _______________ . . i> n ri' i . . r i i T» _ _