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2. Never to take possession of the said islands, nor of any one or more of them, either absolutely or under the title of a Protectorate, or in any other form whatever. 3. Never to acknowledge that a Chief or Prince reiging in Tahiti, can at the same time reign in any one or more of the other islands above mentioned ; nor, on the other hand, that a Chief or Prince reigning in any one or more of those other islands can reign at the same time in Tahiti; the reciprocal independence of the islands abovementioned, and of the Island of Tahiti and its dependencies, being established as a principle. The undersigned, Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and the Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King of the French at the Court of London, being furnished with the necessary powers, hereby declare, in consequence, that their said Majesties take reciprocally that engagement. In witness whereof, the undersigned have signed the present Declaration, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms. Done in duplicate at London, the 19th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1847. (1.8.) PALMEESTON. (1.5.) JAENAC. The President intimated that he deemed it desirable to place this information before the Convention, as some confusion existed as to the precise nature of the relations between the Islands of the Pacific and Foreign Powers. It was resolved that the information contained in the President's communication should be entered upon the Minutes. Mr. Sebvice then laid before the Convention a Memorial from certain Inhabitants of the Colony of Fiji, on matters affecting that Colony, which was read, and ordered to be printed, with a view to the consideration at a future date of such portions of the Memorial as may come within the scope of the Convention. Me. Giblin gave notice of his intention to move the following Resolutions, in lieu of the first, second, and third of the Draft Besolutions laid before the Convention by Mr. Griffith: — New Guinea. 1. That this Convention, while fully recognizing that the responsibility of extending the boundaries of the Empire belongs to the Imperial Government, is emphatically of opinion that the safety and welfare of the Australasian Colonies demand that the Eastern portion of New Guinea should be annexed to the Empire, or made the subject of a British Protectorate. New Hebbides. 2. That this Convention learns with satisfaction that the understanding arrived at in 1878 between Great Britain and France recognizing the independence of the New Hebrides Islands is still in force; and this Convention desires to place on record its deliberate conviction that it is in the highest degree desirable that such understanding should be made permanent. Pacific Islands. 3. That, with regard to the other islands of the Western Pacific, lying between the Admiralty Islands and Fiji, this Convention is of opinion that it is essential to the future safety and well-being of the Australasian Colonies that no Foreign Power should be permitted to acquire any of such, islands. New Caledonia. 4. That this Convention urgently requests Her Majesty's Government to use every available means for preventing the transportation by France to New Caledonia of relapsed criminals or of any criminals in large numbers ; and this Convention is of opinion that the continuation of a Colony for the reception of transported offenders in any part of the South Pacific would be a permanent injury to the peace and social security of the Colonies of Australasia. The consideration of the motion of Mr. Service was resumed, and, after discussion, Mr. Beown moved, and it was unanimously resolved, —" That the various Eesolutions which have been laid before the Convention relating to the annexation of or dealing with the various islands be referred to a Committee, for the purpose of preparing resolutions based thereon for submission to the Convention at its next meeting, and that such Committee consist of Messrs. Stuart, Service, Griffith, Atkinson, Bray, and Giblin." The following papers were laid before the Convention, and ordered to be printed:— By Me. Seevice —A letter from the Eev. .1. J. Paton, on behalf of the New Hebrides Mission, forwarding a petition respecting annexation. By Me. Seevice —Letter from Mr. J. Harry Haydon, Acting Secretary of the Exchange, Melbourne, forwarding a resolution on the subject of the cost of telegraphic messages to Europe and India. By Me. Stuaet —Letter from Messrs. Alfred Bennett and J. Henniker Heaton, on the subject of a cable service to be owned by the Australasian Governments. The Convention adjourned at a quarter to 1 o'clock.

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