The Press. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1914 Mauritius and the New Hebrides.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14984, 3 June 1914, Page 8

The Press. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1914 Mauritius and the New Hebrides.

"SYliilo it is eminently desirable that the New Hebrides should become British, even in tbe interest of the French settlers, it is evident that thero will bo great difficulty in the way of carrying tho proposal into practical effect. The suggestion is made by a Parisian newspaper that the New Hebrides should be given up in exchange for Mauritius. Wo have very little doubt that the French peoplo would welcome such an exchange, but whether England could entertain such a proposal is entirely another question. The New Hebrides aro practically without any of the appurtenances of civilisation, except a hospital provided by British missionaries. The population comprises 300 Britisn settlers, 700 French, .some 120 of other nationalities, and 65,000 natives- The total area of tho land in tho three 'groups Is about 3,500.000 acres, of which tiio French claim about 2,000,000 acres—paper claims for th© most part, which would probably be enormously reduced on being judicially investigated. Tho British settlers lay claim to 700,000 acres, and theso aro doubtless inflated, although not to the same extent as the French. No exact statistics as to trade aro procurable, but both exports and imports aro ismall, the Customs revenue levied on import- amounting to not more than £10,000 a year. Tho .Treat fiopo of tho islands would seem to consist in oocoanut planting, althoug. coffee, sugar, and oven cotton may be

grown. . : ' Although Mauritius has gone through many misfortunes since i. was taken from the French, suffering successively loss from tempest, fire, and pests, stil it is a long-established colony, with railways, docks, schools, and other evidences of civilisation. 'It has an import trade worth about two millions sterling per annum, while tho exports aro worth about two and a-halt millions. Tho harbour of St. Louis, the capital, is one of the best in tho East, and is sufficiently spacious to receive more than a hundred vessels. Tho population of Mauritius presents a problem of peculiar interest, both ethnological aud political. Thero is a permanent settled population of European, African, or mixed descent, numbering up ward of 103,8-14. Many of thoso aro descendants of the ancient Freuch nobles, and tho natives, according to a standard authority, are proud ot their country and of tho designation oi Creoles. There are, howevor, 222,000 Indo-Mauritians—i.e., persons of In dian descent, born in - Mauritius—and some 36,000 other Indians. The Indians, in fact, constitute nearly 70 pei cent, of tho population. This element dates from tho emancipation of tho slaves in 1539-9, when, many of the negroes being disinclined to continue work, coolies were imported from India. This practice was continued until 1910. As in Fiji, the Indians, being thrifty and industrious, are acquiring a great deal of the land from tho original owners, and aro gaining an ascendancy in other callings besides agriculture. Although Mauritius has been under British rule for upwards of a century, French is tho language of the island, and its law is practically tho Code Napoleon. It will bo ever famous in litoraturo as having inspired the story of "Paul ef Vir"ginie," which was written by Bernardin St. Pierre, an engineer in tho service of France, who was stationed in the island towards the close of tho 18tb century. S*ir Walter Bcsant, who was senior professor in tho Royaf Collogo of Mauritius, has celebrated

its beauties in more than ono of his novels, -where it is roferreu* to as tho "Palmiste Island." There are therefore, many reasons, both material and sentimental, why England should not lightly surrender this interesting colony. Even the fact that we arc now ■ to all appearance in lasting friendship with France will not blot out of remembrance tho reason wineS led [ England to undertake tho capture of Mauritius in tho first instance. D_ring tho long war between England and Franco at tho beginning of tho last century, French men-of-war and privateers .sallied forth from St. Louis and preyed on Britir-h commerce with groat effect. An expeditionary force was therefore sent from India, and after several naval engagement' tho island was finally surrendered to Great Britain on December 3rd, ISIO, the laws, religion, and customs of tho islands being guaranteed in tho instrument of capitulation. The possession of the island wa. confirmed to England by the Treaty of Paris in ISI4. It is'true that France now has Madagascar as a '* point d'appui" for attack on our

commerce in tho event of another war, and that Madagascar is only 500 miles from 31auritius. Tho British point of view, however, would probably be that tho fact of Madagascar being French is strategically a very good reason why Mauritius should continue to English. Wo are afraid if an exchange is really desired some other compensation for tho French rights in the New Hebrides will havo to be suggested.