AGAIN THE NEW HEBRIDES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11855, 6 January 1902, Page 4

AGAIN THE NEW HEBRIDES.

One of the peculiarities of British Liberalism is its eagerness to give away colonial rights in response to every foreign clamour. Such a sentiment as the broad-minded Imperialism which regards the interests of the British in the Pacific as not inferior to the interests of the British in the Atlantic is a sixth and unknown sense to Little • Englandism, and only faintly felt by many of those who' would indignantly repudiate Pro-Boerism. It is therefore not astonishing that, we should hear echoed from British mouths the French proposal for waiving all Newfoundland claims if Britain on its side waives all New Hebrides claims and grants West African concession. The echo does not even possess one single originality. The London Express, which is its medium, does not even seem to know, that the French treaty rights in Newfoundland, are exceedingly vague and becoming yearly less valuable, and are only really serious because of the weak Imperial policy which has allowed strained interpretations of those "rights" to become established. We know little of the position in -West Africa, but we may be very certain that the French have very much to gain by obtaining concessions there or they would not want them. As for the New Hebrides, every inch of British claim to them must be maintained seeing that our interests in the Pacific required that they ultimately become British and not French. The London Express repeats without modification the French suggestion upon which.-, we commented some weeks ago. It does not even haggle. It has no wish even to make a bargain. It is enough that the foreigner asks and that the New Hebrides are very far away. But an end has doubtless come to the playing ,of ducks and drakes with our colonial interests by dull-witted and purblind politicians. We do not anticipate that we shall have another Samoan episode in the New Hebrides, but as an additional safeguard we would suggest that our Government support the representations which are being made to the Colonial Office by the Commonwealth Premier concerning the New Hebrides. The Newfoundland dispute is awkward, but it is no more awkward than it has been any time this generation, and it may safely be left as it is until the inevitable washing-up day, if France will not be reasonable over ' it. As for the New Hebrides, it is imperative that no further European aggression should be allowed in the Pacific. We have a sufficient problem with the European colonies which have been allowed to take foothold and have no desire to see it grow larger because ranee has ; grown tired of the situation in Newfoundland. This is a matter which interests New Zealand as much as it does the Commonwealth; wo should support each other unhesitatingly on this j and on all other questions common j between us.