ANNEXATION OF THE SOCIETY GROUP BY FRANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9056, 17 May 1888, Page 5

ANNEXATION OF THE SOCIETY GROUP BY FRANCE.

COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES IN HUAHEINB. THE FRENCH ATTACKED BY THE NATIVES. [from a correspondent.] Papeete (Tahiti), May 1, 1888. The greatest excitement prevails here afc present in consequence of the action of our Governor, Mons. Lacascade, in taking armed possession of the whole of the group of islands known here as " Les Ides sous le Vent," or the " Leeward Islands," which consist of the islands of Huaheine, Raiatea, Bora-Bora, Tahaa, Maupiti, Tubai, and several small islands formerly dependent on Bora-Bora. Ever since the annexation of Tahiti by the French in 1880 tho Government here has been incessantly endeavouring by evory means in its power to induce the natives of those islands to petition for annexation to France, and our present Governor, Mons. Lacascade, has been very busy in this matter ever since his arrival here in 1886, but without much result, as the natives insisted on the strict carrying out of tho Convention between England and Franco, signed in November, 1847, which was an agreement between those Powers to recognise the independence of these islands, and '' n-cver to endeavour to obtain possession of them, in any manner whatever." As your readers are no doubt aware, the New Hebrides Convention was signed by the English and French representatives at Paris on the 16th November last year. One of the clauses of the convontion says that "on the evacuation of the Xeiu Hebrides by the French troops the two Governments would take into consideration the abrogation of the declaration of 1847." Four months from tho 16th November, 18S7, was tho date fixed for the evacuation. This date would be (by Tahiti time) the 15th March, 1888. On that date our Governor, thinking he had at last found an opportunity, &c., taking with him his staff, with all the officers and troops, and all available ships, embarked on board the cruiser Decres for the Leeward Islands, for the purpose of performing what he called a " coup d'etat." All this was performed with the greatest mystery, and the port of Papeete was declared closed for 4S hours, no vessel of any sort being allowed to leave. The Decres went first to Huaheine, where she arrived next day, and the French flag was hoisted with great ceremony, and the island declared to be " annexed to France for ever." No resistance was offered by the natives. The chiefs, however, entered a solemn protest against these proceedings, and declared that until they received notice from England that the Treaty of 1547 was void, they should still consider it as binding upon all parties. They declared that so soon as they received this notice, they would submit without delay. The Decres then steamed to all the other islands in succession, where the same proceedings took place, the natives in all cases vehemently protesting, and demtmding.duc notice of the abrogation of the treaty by England. So soon as they received such notice, one and all declared that they would opi>ose no longor. Meanwhile, at.Huaheine a small vessel of war, the Aorai, had been left as guard-ship, the commander o f which was appointed French Resident for tho island. This gentleman, who is unfortunately a very bumptious person, of coarse manners, soon managed by his language and action to further enrage tho natives, some of whom spoke to him very plainly and rudely. The Decres returned on the 21st March to Huaheine, still having the Governor on board, and the commander of tlte Aorai complained of the language of three of the natives, and requested the Governor to have them arrested and punished. This the Governor consented'to, and an armed party, with an interpreter, was ordered to land aud carry out the Governor's orders. Meanwhile the natives had armed and concealed themselves near the landing place. Just at the moment that the troops were landing the Decres opened fire with her Hotchkiss guns on some canoes which were crossing towards the scene of action, and which were supposed to contain arms, but which were unfortunately full of women. The canoes were scattered by the fire ; one was cut in half, and one woman was shot. Some natives called out that the French were slaughtering their women, and the armed natives at once attacked the landing party, and drove them to their boats, with the loss of their officer and two men killed, and four men severely wounded. The recall was at once sounded from the Decres, and the party retired to their ships, leaving their dead and twelve stand of arms in the hands of the enemy. During the night the natives talked over the situation, and seeing the hopelessness of continued resistance, in the morning they handed over the captured arms to the Governor. The dead they refused to hand over, as it was against native custom to give up foes killed in battle, but they carefully buried them near the spot where they fell. It is not known how many natives were killed or wounded, as they at once retired to the hills. After some parleying with the natives, the Governor agreed that no reprisals should be taken for this unfortunate affair, and the natives on their parfc .agreed to quietly await information from England. The Decres returned to Tahiti, where the body of the killed officer (which had not been left on shore with the others) was buried with great military ceremony, the crew of the Japanese man-of-war Tsukuba (which was in port) providing the firing party. Meantime, affairs in Raiatea are in a most critical state. There are between 450 and 500 so-called e< rebels," who are well armed and have large quantities of ammunition, and who have established a fort in a position in the mountains almost inaccessible. The French troops have taken up and fortified a position in the township, and the Decres lies moored with springs, covering this position and ready for instant action. On the 26th March the rebel leader, Teraupoo, notified the white residents to retire to a small islet in the neighbourhood, as he intended at once to attack the French position. This they all did, and hostilities seemed inevitable. The missionary, Rev. Mr. Richards (London Missionary Society), however visited the rebel camp, and entreated for a delay until he could communicate with the British Consul at Tahiti. Teraupoo then consented to an armistice for 14 days. Meantime Mr. Richards wrote to the Consul, imploring him to use his influence in preventing bloodshed. The Governor also requested the Consul to write, as the natives would believe him and no one else that the treaty of 1847 was abrogated. Unfortunately—owing to the delay with which British Foreign Office transactions are almost invariably surrounded — the Consul has received no news whatever on the eubject, so could not write as requested, but wrote strongly advising the natives to await further information from Europe before committing themselves further. And thus the matter now stands. Raiatea is strictly blockaded by the French, and it is impossible to communicate except through official channels. And no news whatever is heard here as to how matters have been going on since the Consul's communication to tho natives. The French here, both official and unofficial residents, deeply regret the precipitate action of the Governor, as it was entirely unnecessary. Had he waited until official communication had been received of the new convention between England and France, the natives would have submitted and handed over their islands quietly, while as matters now stand the French will have a hard job to compel the submission of the rebel natives, for notwithstanding tho well - known dash and gallantry of the French troops, it will be impossible to overcome well-armed and determined men, who fight under thick cover and on ground thoroughly known to them, without a very considerable loss of life. They can retire from position to position almost inaccessible to troops, and food is abundant in the Raiatea hills. They fully rely upon help from all the other islands, which they assert has been distinctly promised them. Ab present the French have in these waters the Decres, second-class cruiser ; Raiatea ; Aorai, gun vessel, do. ; Orofena, gun vessel, do. ; Scorpion, cruiser, Bora Bora ; Teravao, gun vessel, Huaheine; Vire, armed transport, Tahiti ; also Duquesne and Fabett, expected daily from New Caledonia. Aradhg the white residents the feeling is greatly in favour of French occupation, as

the native Government, ever since 1880, has been most abominable, and there are very few residents who are not anxious for a change, but all are indignant at the manner in which this change has been effected. All the British residents are also disgusted at the vacillation and delay of the Foreign Office, which allows important changes to be made without: giving their officials any information whatever, "and compels them to pick up news from the stories along the beach. Had information of the withdrawal of England from tho 1847 Convention been forwarded to Mr. Talbot, our Consul here, all this trouble, which means utter and ruinous stagnation of business, would have been avoided. Papeete, May 3. A small boat has this moment arrived from Huaheine with the news that the natives had again attacked a party of the French, who had landed armed for the purpose of watering their vessels. Three men are reported toliave been killed, and several wounded. All is excitement here, and the authorities are despatching the Vire (just arrived from Noumea), with evgrv available man. No doubt, if this report .is true, the French will exact terrible reprisals. Nothing seems known of the cause of this attack, and as the Richmond is just on the point of leaving, it is impossible to ascertain more in time to write you. THE FRENCH IN THE PACIFIC. TO THE KDITOK. Sir,—Under the above heading your correspondent, reporting the very painful and unfortunate disturbance on the Island of Huaheine, in connection with the hoisting of the J: rench flug in the Society Islands, makes the following statement: —"The merchants, it is said, are quite content with the change of rule, on account of frequent trouble resulting from the. incompetency of the farmer Protestant Missionary GoverU** , ment." The reference to the " former Protestant Missionary Government " may mislead many of your readers as to the -truerelationship between Missionary organisation and island rule in the Society Islands. Passing over the aspersion intended to be cast upon the English Protestant missionaries of that group, and perhaps upon mis/noiiarizs generally. I wish to state as distinctly as words will allow me, that the English missionaries have had nothing whatever to do with the government of the Society Islands. Each island has had its own government, and the laws have been made by the people themselves. If there has been incotnpetency On the part of native rule in its contact with foreigners, it is clearly not attributable to the missionaries, whose interference, indeed, would have boon strongly resented by the islanders themselves. No one—not excepting oven the merchants—could possibly have a greater desire for a strong, settled, uniform, and just goverment in the islands, than the English missionaries, and none will give it a more hearty welcome, or a more adequate support. As the resident missionary on the island of Huaheine—whither I am now returning after three months' absence —I must express my sorrow and regret that blood should have been shed and life taken in connection with an event which, under present-day circumstances, cannot but result in much good to the Islands and their dwellers—native as well as foreigners. With my thanks in advance.—l am, &c, Ebenezkr V. Cooper, Missionary of the London Missionary Society. May 16th, ISBB.