BRITISH SUBJECTS IN FIJI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3367, 20 November 1872, Page 5

BRITISH SUBJECTS IN FIJI.

The following circular despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies has been laid before the Victorian Parliament:—

J)owning street, 14th August, 1872.—My Lord—Her Majesty's Government have had , under their consideration a question which has arisen with reference to the Government established da facto in the Fijian Islands, namely, whether, beyond the limits of the new state, British subjects, so long as the new state is not recognised, can be accepted as citizens of it and exempted from British jurisdiction in respect of acts done by them or engagements entered into with them. A reference has been made to the law officers of the Crown, who hare advised her Majesty's Government that British subjects beyond the limits of the new state not yet duly recognised should not be accepted as citizens of the new state, nor bo held exempted from British jurisdiction' for acts done by them on British territory or on board ships which ought to be navigated under the British flag. And further, that they should not be held exempted from British jurisdiction for engagements entered into with them in cases where tho validity or construction of such engagements would properly and in ordinary course be triable before a British tribunal. They are further of opinion that Her Majesty's Government may interfere witkithe acts and engagements of British subjects within Fiji, and may declare certain acts and engagements to be legal or illegal iv the case of British subjects within Fiji. The law officers have also reported, with reference to enquiries made through Mr Consul March by certain half-castes residing at Fiji, as to the protection which could be granted to them on account of their British origin in connection with the establishment of a de facto government, that the half castes in question appear to be illegitimate children of Fijian women, and to have been born iv Fijian territory, and that consequently their nationality is not British, and that they are not entitled to British protection. These opinions are communicated to you for your information and guidance.—l have, &c, Kimbehlev.