THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12845, 1 December 1905, Page 5

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

FRENCH OR AUSTRALIAN? United Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright. PARIS, Novmber 29. ; M. Gervais, reporter for the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Chamber of Deputies, referring to the New Hebrides, remarked l that, considering the excellent relations between London and Paris, "he hoped our neighbours would be able to bring the Australian States to an equitable appreciation ~of -our rights, in order to secure the'confirmation in the New Caledonian Archipelago of the situation due to us, owing to our pecuniary sacrifices, and the moral and material, efforts of our subjects, and because of the incontestable geographical fact that the New Hebrides constitute a French coloiiy."

SYDNEY, November 30. The " Sydney Morning Herald," com-' menting on ; the cable message in reference to the New Hebrides.- says:—There should be iio further question of need to/ emphasise at the earliest opportunity that Australia is' the dominant 'force in the Pacific, and further instructions by Powers of either hemisphere will be bitterly resented. It is the duty of Mr Deakin to piomptly inform the Colonial Office that ■'Australia.- entertains nothing but hostility to any proposal for an extension of foreign interests in the -Pacific. The '" Daily Telegraph." after declaring that M: Gei vais's snge*stica is unacceptable, says:—The attitude of the Aus-t;.-?.liuti Parliament' and Government might

well give the French new hope, and incline the British Government to make concessions. Indifference, and neglect have characterised the Australian policy in regard to the group. It would be a novel record if the British were ontgeneralled colonially even by our gallant friends, the French, but there- is a plain choice between this and a change of policy.: We cannot expectto hold the territory of another - nation, which is developing and populating, while we not only are refraining from any share in that effort, but a course calculated to positively discourage British settlement.