THE NEW HEBRIDES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12550, 18 April 1904, Page 4

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

We have long and repeatedly pointed out that it was to the interest of our Australasian colonies that no partition of the New Hebrides should be made, but that a remedy should be found for existing differences as to land titles, and so forth, under the existing regime. This is actually the basis of the part of the Anglo-French Agreement affecting the islands, and we agree with Mr. Secldon that it is quite satisfactory. It has been the habit of our French friends to speak of the destiny of the New Hebrides being to fall entirely into their hands, a presumption hardly calculated to soothe our British tempers, seeing that we have quite as much right to them as France has, and that our Pacific interests are to those of France as a hundred to one. However, the agreement arrived a,t is proof that when it comes to the point the French Government is not unreasonable and does not attempt to force a solution which the British colonies of the Pacific could not accept, and would only submit to under protest. We have got what we want: the maintenance and retention in the New Hebrides of every British claim and British right, claims and rights so mistakenly abandoned in Samoa. And having this satisfaction, it must be our honest endeavour to prevent the New Hebrides from causing friction between iwo great nations and to give our French neighbours no cause to regret the magnanimous action of their Government. For we naturally assume that the French Parliament will approve the treaty, and that we can now leave the ultimate settlement of the New Hebridean question to a time when it may peacefully, naturally, and unanimously settle itself.