THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20288, 22 December 1927, Page 17

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

THE EXPANSION OF FRENCH INFLUENCE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) NEW HEBRIDES, November 15. Professor J. MacMillan Brown knows the Pacific and everything relating to that ocean as few people do. His two volumes, “ Peoples and Problems of the Pacific,''' are the result of 20 years’ observation, and deal with a wide range of interesting topics. Whether, however, it be Origins or Depopulation or High Polities that is under review Professor MacMillan Brown is conversant with his subject, anil moves with easy but firm tread over the whole field. In dealing, however, with the tangled political problem in the New Hebrides, he has not noticed certain important developments which have taken place within recent years, the operations of which have completely changed the situation. " Professor MacMillan Brown has nothing but condemnation for the Condominium, and entertains no hope of improvement. Regarding partition of the group as impracticable, he envisages sole control by one or other of the Powers as the only alternative. But' ns France, in his opinion, has no surplus population to exploit the islands, he thinks that under French control financial disaster would overtake the group. The New Hebrides, he contends, are a natural annexe to Australia, and will be vital to uer defence in the future. Therefore he hinks Australia should make arrangements to buy out the islands.

A glance at the map is sufficient to convince evcjn the most casual observer of the truth of Professor MacMillan Brown’s contention regarding the value of the group to Australia for purposes of defence. The New Hebrides is a link in the chain of islands stretching fi”>m New Guinea to New Zealand, and the entire archipelago forms Australia’s line of defence. The situation is somewhat analogous to that which confronted America at the time of the SpanishAmorican war, when she felt it necessary, in the interests of defence, to obtain possession of the islands contiguous to her coasts. The proposal to buy out the French has been frequently made, and, when Professor MacMillan Brown visited the islands in 1913, it was undoubtedly within the sphere of practical politics. Indeed, as late as 1921, the French New Hebrides Company, in financial difficulties, offered to sell to the Australian Government all its land and concessions for £500,000. A priceless opportunity was presented Australia for adjusting her defence lines and of bringing a longstanding international dispute to an end, but Mr W. M Hughes regarded ihe offer as a doubtful proposition and rejected it. With a nation, as with an individual, there is a tide in its affairs when fateful opportunities are presented, but if they are missed very rarely are such chances ever repeated. In the year followinf the French Company’s offer, France embarked on a new venture which changed the entire situation, and automatically removed the idea of purchase from the sphere of practical politics. For want of labour French, as well as British, colonisation was langi ’shing, and the Nationals of both countries entreated their respective Governments for an imported supply. To present financia. disaster the French took the initiative by introducing labourers from tbeir colony of Tonkin China. The Asiatics not only saved the situation, but proved to be the harbinger of a new era, enabling the French to establish and consolidate their interests. In tiny driblets, at first, the flow gradually Increased, until now 500 new recruits arrive in the New Hebrides every year from Asia. As the indigenous natives decrease in numbers the foreigners are steadily increasing and populating the islands with a new stock. So weU manned are the French estates with the Asiatics that the planters -eari now afford to ignore the local supply, which at best was both spasmodic and 1 e vacant lands offered to Australia .or sale are now being filled with French colonists and the dense, primeval bush is giving place to smiling cotton fields. A new lease of life was given to French occupation, and, so far from the group heading for financial disaster, the signs all point in the opposite direction. Both men and money are pouring into the group, ma v ing French influence unquestionably suprem p;ir;imount p OS ition of France is recognised bv the tourist as soon as he sets foot in Vila, the capital. Fi'om bemg t, sleepy and nnprogressive town it has blossomed into a busy port with a trade big enough to attract the l?rge ocean liners of the Messages Maritimes Formerly, the population was fairly "’ell balanced between French and English but of recent years British traders have been gradually squeezed out or bought on , until now it is almost wholly a Fiend centre. There is only one British business house in the town, that of Messrs Burns, Philp, and Co., whose diminutive store is quite overshadowed by the big French establishments. The only other Britishers are the Condominium officials who, so far from answering to Protessor MacMillan Brown’s description of them as < pooh-balis on narrow salaries without prospects of promotion or pensions,’ arc all filled with an over-weening sense ot their importance. , No blame can be attached to the British colonists for the existing situation. From the outset they have fought a losing battle, and. with the Governments of° England and Australia either apathetic or hostile, there could b e only one issue to the struggle. So far from bearany grudge to their French rivals, the British admire the systematic way in which all sections hav e worked together to promote French supremacy. The missions have always been strong bulwarks for the maintenance of British interests, but, as the native population declines, their numbers are also declining while some mission committees arc frankly tired of the hopeless and interminable struggle against French abuses and irregularities. The mission to-day is only a shadow of its former self. Under such changed conditions it is not surprising that the French have no longer j any thoughts of either purchase or exchange or partition. The French are in the New Hebrides to stay. Even were France prepared to soil, the price would no longer be in terms of £500.000 A price would be demanded which Australia could not afford to pay. By refusing the offer made eight years ago Mr Hughes has bequeathed to the people of Australia a legacy which may prove to be a fruitful source of trouble" to future genera, tinns.