THE RECIDIVISTE QUESTION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1448, 5 January 1887, Page 2

THE RECIDIVISTE QUESTION

[nBtTTRR 8 TBLB«RAMft— OOPTItIOKT ] Mblbodrnb January 4, Mails, under date London, November 28th, bring details of Sir Graham Berry's despatch to the Under Secretary of the Colonies regarding the recidiviste question. Acknowledging a copy of Lord Lyons' despatch, Sir Graham requests that the UrderSecietary will convey to Mr Stanhope his deep regret that France will persist m a course detrimental to the colonies, and notwithstanding the concurrence of opinion m England and the colonies that the transportation of criminals to the neighborhood of the communities of Australasia is unfriendly and unjustifiable. He contends that this view is fully justified by M. Waddington's allusion that if the French proposals had been accepted transportation would cease, and declares that the annexation of the islands will nowisa assist the dealing vrith habitual criminals. There is no connection, he urges, between the recidivistes and the new Hebrides question, and the decision of the French Government is calculated to embitter the relations between France and Australia. He proceeds to say it is well known and admitted that with* out an extension of territory it is im* possible to retain more convicts m New Caledonia, and consequently these sweepings from the prisons will be precipitated on Australasian shores, and it is evident that the Governments will be bound to take measures to defend their populations from the moral contamination otherwise inevitable. Sir Graham Berry hopes that the Imperial Government will induce France to reconsider her decision, and come to the determination to refrain from a course calculated to deeply offend and irritate a friendly Power. Lord Iddesleigh wrote to the Chairman of the French a Budget Committee enclosing a copy of J Sir Graham Berry's despatch; 1