THE ANNEXATION QUESTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 602, 18 August 1883, Page 13

THE ANNEXATION QUESTION.

(REUTEg’S TELEGRAMS.)

(Received August 14, 1.0 p.m.) Albany, August 14

The P. and O. steamship Assam arrived in King George’s Sound this evening, with the inward mails, dated London, July 13, by which the following further particulars regarding the annexation debates in the Imperial Parliament are to hand. On July 7th the question of annexation was raised in the House of Lords by Baron Lamington, who asked how far the colonies were justified in annexing territory without the sanction of tbe Home Government. Lord Carnarvon, speaking on the same subject, urged the of establishing discipline on the coast of New Guinea. Lord Derby agreed with Lord Carnarvon that it was very desirable that the Home Government should hear the opinion of the colonial representatives in London. The quasi-diplomatic relations and positions of the Colonial Agents-General was very satisfactory in principle, but the Government did not deem it advisable that the responsibility of the colonies should be increased. If, however, the colonies insisted upon enlarging their territory, and undertook to bear the consequent burdens, the case would be somewhat altered. He believed that the agitation for the annexation of New Guinea was the result of reports that some foreign Power was about to seize the island. The rumors were, however, without foundation, and, he believed, had arisen chiefly from the anxiety of the colonists themselves. The Imperial Government was not prepared to annex such an enormous extent of territory as New Guinea, and it was impossible for Queensland to assume the responsibility. The colonial representatives had, since then, submitted to the. Government proposals for the annexation of the New ' Hebrides, the Solomon Islands, and other groups in the Pacific, but he could not hold out any hope that these proposals would receive the consent of the Ministry. The Cabinet were, however, now considering measures, to secure order in New Guinea and in the Pacific, with a view to rendering trade safe. If the colonies desired extension of territory their object would be best attained by confederation, which he considered a question of great importance.

On the 10th July, the same question was again under consideration in the House of Lords, when the Secretary of State for the Colonies stated, in reply to Lord Sidmouth, that the agreement between the English and French Governments to mutually abstain from annexing islands in the Pacific was still valid. Lord Derby further remarked that it would be impossible to defend the whole of the Australian coast line. The true principle was to defend the important points only, and at the same time to maintain the supremacy of the Imperial naval force in Australian waters. The Government had no objection to allowing naval officers to serve in colonial defence, but no request to this effect had been made, and the colonies had not applied for naval officers. The Admiral commanding the Australian! Squadron would be delighted to assist in the preparation of a scheme of defence for the colonies. London, July 13. In the House of Commons recently, Mr Gladstone, replying to a question put by Mr Samuelson as to whether the Government were prepared to give any weight to the danger of possible public feeling in the Australian colonies in the event of occurrences in the Pacific similar to those in Madagascar, gave an answer in the affirmative, and added that if the question of the annexation of New Guinea was brought before Cabinet, all contingencies would receive mature consideration.