THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13543, 16 March 1906, Page 5

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

MR SEDDON ON THE SITUATION.

(Per United Vp.v.ss Association.)

WELLINGTON. March 15.

The subject of t,l:c Now Hebrides was referred to by the Premier in the course of a speech at Levin. They found, ho said, tho British Government urging a proctcctorate as between Franco and Britain over those islands. At one time those islands were actually included in the colony of New Zealand, according to the latitude and longitude given, hut speedily they corrected Hint, and put the islands out of New Zealand's boundaries. Ho wished they had allowed them to remain, They were valuable islands, and, ho believed, within a very short distance of the colony. The agreement was almost completed, and ho did not very well see how the Government rottkl recede, from the portion, awl there were communications now between thn selfgoverning colonics and the British Government on the, subject. Ho could not divnlge what had transpired, but this he could say: that a long t.imo ago a despatch was sent from this country to the British Government in which.the New Zealand Government plainly and distinctly laid down what it believed to be the proper course for (lie British Government to follow. He said it would be better for them to concede somo other islands to France, which should cede whatever rights she- had to the New Hebrides and allow them to be British. The New Zealand Government paid if th<> British Government could. not do that it would lie better to let some of the islands be British and some French rather than have friction between Ihe hvo nations, with a prospcet of Britain ultimately receding and handing over the whole of the islands to France.