FRENCH COMMUNISTS IN OCEANIA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3278, 15 August 1871, Page 3

FRENCH COMMUNISTS IN OCEANIA.

OThe following letter, bearing the signature of "J.V.," and evidently communicated by Mr Yogel, has appeared in the London " Times" : — " Attention has very properly been directed to the danger which threatens the Australasian colonies from the flood of Communistic convictism which is to be turned on New Caledonia. While 1 do not uuder-estimate the risk of a large number of these convicts finding their way directly from New Caledonia to the Australasian colonies, it must be borne in mind that it is possible for the colonial legislatures, by vigorous measures, to check such immigration. But it is to be feared very many of the French convicts will find their wuy to the Fiji Islands, which are not far distant from Now Caledonia ; and it will be impossible afterwards to prevent such couvicts proceeding to Australia, unless communication with the Fijis be closed. The proposal to send great numbers of the French Communists to New Caledonia, will possibly cause attention to be directed to the Fiji question. It may then be pertinently asked why Great Britain, which a few generations since would readily have sent a squadron to take possession of the group if the prospect of settling a colony there had been presented, should now refuse to accept the islands as a gift, though they have been pressed upon her acceptance. If it is to be understood that the colonial policy of Great Britain has been modified, and that, therefore, it is not wise to add to her possessions in the Pacific, then the Australasiau colonies should have the opportunity of taking charge of the Fijis, and so pre- ( venting what must otherwise inevitably be the case sooner or later — a foreign power obtaining a lodgment in the vicinity of Australia and New Zealand. If, on the other hand, it is in the minds of British statesmen, without reference to parties, to retain possession of the Australasian colonies and to avoid the cost of a much enlarged squadron in the Pacific, which the lodgment of a foreign power in the Fiji would beyond the possibility of cavil entail, then a mere pounds-shillings-and-pence economy should lead to the Empire taking possession of the Fijis, or enabling the Australian colonies to do so. !An Order in Council declaring the group to be included with one or other (or possibly with more than one) of the colonies would, I believe, be all that it is necessary for the Government to do to enable the islands of the group to be brought under settled rule, and to be secured to the British race. Failing one of the suggested courses, the prospect of having as a neighbor such a reckless and desperate Alsatia as the Fijis threaten to become, and of their turning loose upon the Australian continent and NewZealand an uulimited number of the proteges of ' Mary Anne' is altogether so lamentable that the colonies, notwithstanding future hazards, will really be compelled to hope that some foreign power will intervene and establish a staple government for the Islands of the Fijian group."