FRANCE AND THE PACIFIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 18

FRANCE AND THE PACIFIC.

ESTABLISHING A NAVAL STATION.

FIVE SHIPS TO BE COMMISSIONED

(From Oue Own Coekespondent.)

WELLINGTON, April 4

At the time of the Fashoda incident I gave you some mfoimation to the effect that the French were strengthening their position in the South Pacific, and that the Government were giving the matter some thought This brought forth a eort of denial from the Minister of Defence, but subsequently I received ample confirmatory evidence of the statements then made. The fortifications at New Caledonia were being strengthened and the garrifaon increased ; guns of position were also being imported, but unluckily the mountings were lost in a vessel that struck on a coral reef. At the time of the Fashoda incident feeling ran very high at times between the French and the Britieh. and the entente cordiale in. the South Pacific is, if anything, less apparent than it was then. By a leccnt mail I received lettera from the French possessions dealing with the present troubles in the New Hebrides. It appears that the grievance of the French in regard to the missionaries is of long standing. As far back as 1884- the French Government sent troops tc Havanah Harbour and Port Sandwich These troops built barracks and other houses, and in a way settled down. The missionary residing at the former place acquainted the Victorian Government ot the fact, and the latter communicated with the Home authorities. This was followed by a strong protest to France, and the iroops were withdrawn. Then the land question has begun to cause great trouble. The French Company claim many piece? which the natives declare have not been sold. The missionaries back up their flocks, and coufus:on ensues. Of course, the French naturally re.-ent this, and vilify the missionaries, who reciprocate in kind. There are no doubl (says my correspondent) faults on both sides, but tho French are not always right. Certainly they are not saints, and many of their actions will not bear looking into. The dual control is a source of Kr°at dissatisfaction ; indeed, it is a complete farce as was the tnple control In Samoa. Within quite recent years a number of &c timers have been killed, "mostly Britishers, and nothing has been done excepting to shell grass huts and k'U pigs, the offending tribes being previously informed, =0 that they could get out of harm's, way. The captains, of the warships have no power to settle land or other civil questions. Their only duty seeim to be to see that the white people do not hlay one another or the native?. But the Britishers have another reason to murmur against their Government. The French have decided privileges which our countrymen have not. I made that phase of the question clear in my recent articles descriptive of the cruise of the Mildura, showing how even 111 the i^ands that are under British protection the Englishman has been jockeyed out, and Ue trade has gone to the French flag-. Tno British residents argue that both natioi-ah-ties should be on the same footing, or. m other words, that the aids to success toat the French and other foreigners have should be taken away, seeing that they are unnecessary, and, indeed, dangerous. As to the natives, they, if left alone, would not favour either nationality very much, and if they did it would probably only be the better paying one. ,-,•,, 1 The recent friction between England and France has reached even to the 3puth Pacific, and, of course, it is intensified, influenced as it is in that direction by the Noumean press. Recently these papers in nearly every number have had an article that is strongly abusive of the British. Now, however, that the Commonwealth is "au fait accompli,' and Mr Barton has his eye on the situation* the British settlers and traders are hoping for annexation with Australia or New Zealand. The French, however, are not remaining idle. but. reading the signs of the times, have been industriously improving their position. I have now absolutely authentic information that the French Government have determined to establish a naval station at one of their islands in the South Pacific. They have already three ships of war now on the station, and the strength is very shortly to be increased to five. My correspondent also informs me that guns of position are being mounted to strengthen the harbour defencesr These preparations and the number of ships to be employed are certainly much more than adequate to the necessities of the position, and in the event of foreign complications they would be a menace to the South Pacific, New Zealand, and the Commonwealth.