9

A.—3d

Caledonia among the places to which relapsed criminals shall be sent, and at the same time to give them an amount of liberty not hitherto enjoyed by those now under penal servitude in that island. This liberty, in the opinion of those best acquainted with the circumstances of the Australian colonies and the neighbouring countries, would inevitably lead to a wide dispersion of the French convict population among islands not under French authority, whence they would migrate to the Australian continent. 4. The French Government should be pressed to consider that, having regard to the very numerous cases in which convicts have, during recent years, escaped from New Caledonia to Australia, any increase of the numbers sent thither must necessarily be viewed as an unfriendly act; and more particularly that the provisions of the Bill, and the manner in which, according to explanations publicly given, it is contemplated that those provisions should be carried out, compel Her Majesty's Government to express their strong hope that they may receive an assurance that it will not be applied to New Caledonia. 5. I am to return the copy of the Bill enclosed in your letter, and to request that copies may be sent to this department as soon as it is printed. I am, &c. The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Eobbbt G. W. Heebeet.

No. 15. The Foeeign Office to the Colonial Office. Sib, — Foreign Office, December 7, 1883. With reference to my letter of the 23rd of November, I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you herewith, to be laid before the Earl of Derby, copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, enclosing copy of a note verbale which he has received from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, in answer to the memorandum which Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires addressed to the French Government in August last upon the subject of the Bill for the transportation of relapsed criminals to New Caledonia. I am to add that your letter of the sth instant upon this subject is now under Lord Granville's consideration. I am, &c. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Philip W. Cueeie.

Enclosure. My Lord, — Paris, December 3, 1883. With reference to my despatch of the 28th of October last, to Mr. Plunkett's despatches of the 31st of August and 21st of September last, as well as to your Lordship's despatch of the 4th of September last, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship a copy of a note verbale which has been sent to me by the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, in answer to Mr. Plunkett's memorandum of the 31st August, respecting the apprehensions excited in Her Majesty's Australian Colonies by the Bill for transportation of relapsed criminals to New Caledonia which has been passed by the French Chamber of Deputies. The note states that, as the Bill, though adopted by the Chamber of Deputies, is still liable to amendment by the Senate, the French Government cannot yet speak positively as to the purport of the measure, or the mode in which it will be carried into execution. The French Government hopes, however, to be able in a short time to give an estimate of the number of criminals, now in prison, to whom the law will be applicable, if it shall be passed by the Senate in its present shape. Finally, it appears from the note that orders have been sent to the Governor of New Caledonia to continue to apply to the competent authorities, in conformity with the 16th Article of the Treaty of the 14th of August, 1876, for the extradition of transported convicts who escape to Australia. I have, &c. The Earl Granville, KG. Lyons.

Sub-Enclosure. Le Ministre d'Angleterre a Paris a remis, le 31 Aout, a M. Ch.-Lacour une note appelant l'attention dv Gouvernenaent de la Bepublique sur certaines consequences gui paraissaient au Gouvernement Britannique devoir resulter pour les colonies Australiennes de la mise en execution dv projet de la loi sur les recidivistes presents recemment a la Chambre dcs Deputes. D'apres les dispositions de cette loi, la relegation dans differentes colonies francaises, parmi lesquelles fjgurent la Nouvelle Caledonie et ses dependances, doit etre prononcee dans certains cas. Les populations dcs possessions anglaises ont manifeste les craintes que leur inspirent le voisinage eventuel dcs individus ainsi eloign6s de la metropole, et Lord Granville dcsirerait savoir quelles sont les intentions dv Gouvernement francais en cc gui concerne le nombre dcs condamnes destines a nos etablissements de l'Ocean Pacifique, et le regime auquel ils seraient soumis. II convient, tout d'abord, de rernarquer que les dispositions dont il s'agit n'ont encore 6t6 sanctionnees que par l'une dcs deux assemblies dont l'accord est necessaire pour leur dormer force de loi, et que les deliberations dv Senat, auquel elles sont soumises en cc moment, peuvent meme les remanier par voie d'amendement devant la Chambre dcs Deputes. Dans ces conditions une certaine reserve s'impose au Gouvernement francais, et le Gouvernement anglais se rendra facilement ©empte qu'il nous soit difficile de fournir dcs a present dcs indications positives sur la portee et sur le mode d'application dune loi gui attend encore la sanction complete dcs pouvoirs publics. Dans l'etat actuel de notre legislation, tout condamne libere, sauf le cas oil la surveillance de la haute police I'astreint a une residence fixe, derneuro libre de se rendre dans les pays strangers, 2—A. 3d.