A.—ll

2

The Foreign Office to the Colonial Office. Sik,— Foreign Office, 17th February, 1886. In reply to your letter of the 4th instant, I am directed by the Marl of Eosebery to state for Earl Granville's information that, as no foreign Power would appear to have laid claim to the Kermadec group of islands, and as those islands are not included in the list published by the United States Government of guano islands appertaining to that State, His Lordship is not awaro of any objection to their annexation to New Zealand. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. J. Pauncefote.

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