ME NEW HEBRIDES QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7639, 17 May 1886, Page 5

ME NEW HEBRIDES QUESTION.

» [kedtjbr's telegram.] London, May 14. In the House of Commons to-day, Mr. Osborue Morgan, the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, stated, in reply to a question by Mr. Howard Vincent, that France had offered to cease the deportation of convicts to the Pacific if she were allowed to occupy New Hebrides. Mr. Morgan added that Her Majesty's Government had agreed to give the matter consideration provided that the occupation took the form of a protectorate, and that freedom of religion and trade were guaranteed ; the cession of Rapa to Great Britain was also one condition implied. Mr. Morgan also stated that the Government had consulted the various colonial authorities on the matter. In the House of Lords last night, Earl Rosebery, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, stated that he had informed M. Waddington, the French ambassador in London, that it was improbable the British colonies would consent to the cession of New Hebrides. Lord Rosebery added that, although M. Waddington had been notified, the British Government had not sent a formal reply to France, because negotiations with the colonies were not yet completed. [press association. London, May 15. Mr. Graham Berry has applied for an interview with Lord Granville re New Hebrides. [reuter's tklbgbam. | THE GOVERNMENT RESOLVE NOT TO ALLOW THE ANNEXATION. London, May 16. It is announced that Government has finally resolved not to allow the annexation of the New Hebrides by France.