THE NEW HEBRIDES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7660, 10 June 1886, Page 5

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

[rkuter's telegram.] Melbourne, June 9. The Victorian Government have instructed Mr. Graham Berry, the AgentGeneral in London, to ask Lord Granville, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to obtain from France an assurance that she does not intend to annex the New Hebrides. The Premier, Mr. Gillies, has received no intimation as yet of the alleged annexation of the New Hebrides by France, and is still inclined to discredit the report.

THE NEGOTIATIONS IN LONDON. Our London correspondent sends the following respecting the negotiations :— Active negotiations are proceeding botween the Foreign and Colonial Offijes and the French Government in respect to the future of the New Hebrides. It is evident, by tho telegrams which have been received in this country from Australia, and the communications which tho Agents-General are constantly making to Earl Granville, that this question is attracting great attention on the other side of the world, aud it seems probable that as much, or more, of what is going on is known amongst yourselves aa amongst us. The position of affairs, as far as wo know en this side, is briefly this : The French Government are as I'ftger as overin thoir desire to secure possession of the New Hebrides, but, nevertheless, they have recently renewed their assurances that they will not seize tho group while the existing agreement with Great Britain remains in operation. They are, however, anxious to secure tho abrogation of that convention, and to this end have announced that in return for permission to do so they are prepared to make very considerable couoeesions to what they call Australian prejudioes. They are willing to give an undertaking, not only to abandon tho recidiviste scheme so far as the Pacific is concerned, but to stop transportation to New Caledonia—possibly after a certain time—and to grant freudom of commerce to British traders in the New Hebrides just as in the case of Raiatea. The interests of the Protestant missionaries are also to be respected, and possibly might even be guaranteed by the appointment of a Board of Commissioners similar to that of Tahiti, where, it is curious to relate, the Presbyterian and Episcopalian Commissioners are ablo to outvote the Roman Catholic representatives on all matters of importance affecting tho religious denominations of the island. The French offer stops short at these conditions, but, at the suggestion of Now South Wales, it is believed Lord Rosebery is strongly insisting on the cession of Rapa to the British as a naval station in addition to the other concessions. In fact, Lord Rosebery has informed M. Waddington, the French Ambassador in England, that he can consider the abandonment of British claims in the New Hebrides only upon such a basis. The Republican Government are taking up a very stiff attitude in regard to this additional demand, but hopes are entertained that their scruples may, with a little diplomats adroitness, be ovorcorae. However, should nothing be done in the matter of the cession of Rapa, aud the negotiations consequently come to the ground, M. Waddington has pointedly declared that the despatch of recidivistes to the Pacific will be inevitable. This menace, indeed, is one of the most prominent features in the situation. Unfortunately the home officials are experiencing great additional difficulty in conducting these negotiations owing to the divisions of opinion which exist amongst *he Australasian colonies themselves. While New South Wales and New Zealand are strongly supporting the French proposals, an amended by Lord Roiebery's suggested addition, believing that thoir acceptance would secure all the essential interests of the colonies, Victoria and Queensland, who may be said to represent tne Federationists, are protesting in the strongest possible terms against any expansion of French territorial influence in the Pacific. All the authorities hero wish the colonies to understand is, that if France does by-and-by calmly annex the New Hebrides, they must not expect the home authorities to make a fuss. Lord GJranvillo is quite ready to convey the ideas of the colonies to France, and to remonstrate on their behalf; that is all.