THE NEW HEBRIDES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 55

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

COMMENTS ON THE AGREEMENT. AUSTRALIA IGNORED. MELBOURNE, March 6. Mr Deakin, the Federal Premier, is surprised that no official information has been received regarding the reported New Hebrides settlement, seeing' that Australia has special interests in the matter, and had asked to be represented on the Commission which recently dealt with the matter in London. The Governor-General has received an official cablegram announcing that the Anglo-French Commission has arrived at a decision regarding the New Hebrides, and that the decision will be submitted to the Commonwealth. MELBOURNE, March 7. Mr Deakin, the Federal Premier, states that the New Hebrides Convention is provisional and subject to the consent of both the English and French Governments, the evident intention bo : ing to consult the Commonwealth before it is ratified. The conference, he believes, was merely for drawing up a basis upon which an agreement was to bo made. MELBOURNE, March 8. The “Age,” in urging the unsatisfactory nature of the New Hebrides agreement, says:—“lf Parliament had been sitting, it is quite certain that an adjournment of both Houses of Parliament would have been moved to discuss the situation, especially the absolute ignoring of the representations of every Federal Minister of External Affairs since federation was consummated.” The “ Age ” summarises the case against the settlement in so far as the position is revealed in the cable messages, and adds: —“ It follows that it was arrived at without any communication or consultation with Australia or New Zealand. The agreement deals with only one question—land disputes. It refuses Australia representation on the land tribunal, lays down no basis for the regulation of trade, and sets out no code of laws outside the suggested communes. In other words, it means the continuance of the old dual control system, under which France will be able to further increase her hold on the islands. The agreement also ignores the expressed desire of influential native rulers to be placed definitely under British rule. . March 8 Island traders in Sydney consider that the New Hebrides agreement will dive France a preponderating influence. The system of municipal government will enable French settles to control the group, owing to the British holdings feeing scattered, while the French settle-

men to are on strategic points and provide the only important base on the future route between England and Australia via the Panama Canal.

SYDNEY, March 9. Th© "Sydney Morning Herald” saya r ; _“lf the New Hebrides agreement can be carried out with advantage to British interests, we are bound to do our part. The question _is ■whether the Commonwealth cannot just add the something necessary to give Britain more, solid ground for future negotiations. The trouble with Butish settlement has been that British subjects have no market® unless they become French subjects. Why cannot we throw open our ports? Then this will add a new element to the situation, not at all inimical to France, and will show the world that we are prepared to do for our own countiymcn what France is doing for bets.