THREE PACIFIC ISLANDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22356, 29 February 1936, Page 12

THREE PACIFIC ISLANDS

The British Foreign Office will not dispute ownership with the United States of Howland, Baker and Jarvis Islands, according to a statement issued in London. These Pacific islands have very little economic value and had not been populated for many years. They recently assumed importance because they lie on the transpacific air route south of 'Hawaii, Recognising this, the American authorities at Hawaii recently colonised them by placing four Hawaiian boys on each island, and. subsequently were reported to have completed annexation. The islands have for long been regarded as British territory and the Foreign Office admits "we thought we had a claim to them." So much so, indeed, that the British Government once leased the islands to an Australian company. Apparently, however, nothing is to be done to uphold that claim and the islands are to be allowed to become United States property. It is permissible to ask whether, if their ownership is desired on behalf of an American air service, their retention in British hands might not be equally desirable on behalf of prospective British air services? Imperial Airways is considering plans for this route, and Canada, Australia and New Zealand are intensely interested in its development. The question arises whether the Dominions were consulted on a matter of close concern to them. This is but the latest example of the need for better machinery for inter-Empire consultation on matters of common interest. It is said that the Dominions were not consulted prior to Sir Samuel Iloare's fine statement of British policy at Geneva last September, nor on the Hoarc-Laval peace plan in December. Yet through their status in the Empire and their membership of the League of Nations, they were bound to be involved. Clearly it is time that efficient machinery for consultation was devised as between Britain and t.ho Dominions. That is a subiect that should not be overlooked at the next Imperial Conference and the discussion on that occasion should be facilitated if a preliminary exchange of views were opened at once.