THE NEW HEBRIDES QUESTION,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5649, 19 June 1886, Page 4

THE NEW HEBRIDES QUESTION,

{BY MLMCTBIC T2fI_S_4PH - OOPTBIfIHT.] [Exutjsb'b Th__gb__j.] LONDON, Joke V. In the House of Commons to-day, Mr Bryce, Under - Secretary for Foreign Affairs, replying to a question, stated that M. de Freycinet, the French Premier, had renewed the assurance, previously given, that France would respect the independence of the New Hebrides, but that - Lord Lyons, the British Ambassador, had been instructed to call attention to the fact that hoisting the French flag on that group had occasioned great excitement in the Australian Colonies. Mr Bryce further stated that the captain of H.M.S. Undine had been ordered to proceed to the New Hebrides, to report to Government as to the actual state of affairs in the group. Sir Eobert Herbert, Permanent Under-Secretary for the Colonies, informed Mr Graham Berry, AgentGeneral for Victoria, that Govern- ' ment have decided to forward a request to the French Government that the Ne* Hebrides should be evacuated by its troops as soon as fear of outrages on French subjects had been removed. LONDON, Jukb 18. The Pall Mall Gazette), in an article on the New Hebrides Question, contends that Lord Lyons, the British Ambassador at Paris, should demand h_3 passport from the French Government, if the French flag is not hauled down. Mr Berry, in his despatch, states that unless the French Government can prove that any of their countrymen have been massacred, the occupation of the Islands should immediately cease. If it is considered that the Natives are dangerous, then England has an equal right to similarly occupy the Islands. Since the details regarding the despatch of the warship Dives have arrived, Mr Berry has had an interview with the Earl of Granville, and protested to him against the flagrant breach by France of the agreement ■with England, and urged that prompt action could alone prevent absolute annexation of the New Hebrides. [Spboial to Pbess Association.] LONDON, Jus- 18. It is stated in Paris that five massacres have occurred at the New Hebrides, and that although troops ■were landed there was no formal hoisting of the French colours.