SOUTHERN SEAS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 22, 21 October 1907, Page 7

SOUTHERN SEAS.

' ;± — ri . v : " :.j EUROPEAN POWERS IN OCEANIA. ; ■] AUSTRALASIA'S RIGHT. ;{ NEW CALEDONIA AND TAHITI, v... j BY TELEGRAM—MESS ASSOCIATION—COPI'RIOHI '• . ..; Sydney, October 19. | Tho "Horald," commenting on tho rumouri .1 regarding tho possiblo salo or transfer '■ ol j New Caledonia and Tahiti, says:—"lt il' '' j specially dosirablo that Australia should as- .. | sort her claims to be consulted on the ques< . 'j tion of dealing with' tho problem of the j South Pacific now, when thoro is so much 1 \ talk of Bhufl'ling of tho international cards in i this part of tho world at our own doors." "j ; There was a rumour that Prance intended to | ■ transfer Tahiti to Germany, but the then ■'■ •. ' .' Acting Federal Priino Minister, Sir Wm. . ] Lyne, said tho Government ilad no' know- . i ledgq of it. Tho "Herald," whilo accepting ■' " j this ' statement,:. then remarked:—"lf Great - : Britain valued, the opinion of Australia on a ; transaction which would bring Germany to\ ." : our doors'in the'Faciflc,'anything like a bar-' . gain (between- I'ranco and Germany) of the:.": , ".; kind indicated over Tahiti would in all pro- -.-.,- -, bability be made tho subject iof strong inter- ~ national romonstrance. Wo do not aspire to make the South Pafcific a 'closed sea,' but thero is an olement of danger to the Australian future disclosed whem there-is talk of a ■ ,- l'ising sea Power like Germany, with her col- ' onising and naval ambitions, establishing her- 1 Eolf. in forco. at. Tahiti. Thero is a fooling in Australia that the' Commonwealth ought to bo heiird on any such proposition, and heard : through the home Government. In all 6uch \. , matters.it. willj wo believe, become eaeier to ,■• ' assort that claim when the reforms in the '■ , Colonial Office.are in duo working order.". With -regard to New Caledonia, the follow- / ing petition (which was bitterly attacked by .. tho Noumea paper "France Aiistrnle") was ■ lately, in circulation in the island:— . . '- "To Moiisiour tho President of the Eopublio, . tho Ministers, and. tho Minister for tho ..'.. Colonies. : ' . "Messiours,—The 'undersigned, residing in' New Caledonia, have tho honour to beg your graciousuess to spttlo the following question. . "Since these are times of entente 'cordiale . ;with England, and as. small presents have the •., power to maintain friendship, wo pray'you to • '.. bo willing to givo us to England, and "we feel sure that in return England could not but re- ■•'"'. turn your act of courtesy in somo form or >■- " other, the, value of which would bo at least V as great, , ■.■'.'..-. ;■ ;.' "The advantages, that we would mutually derivo:(froin this arrangement) would ,be very ' great. For your part, you would no longer have to troublo about us; you would , - recoive no further 1 demands from us, and our , :-... loud complaints , wo';lu not disturb, your, repose. (Nos',.criaillories no 'ti'oubleront plus' .' .-,■ votre digestion I) . ■ ; ' . ." ■ ' , "On pur side, wehavo the firm belief that "' ; we would-roceivo our right ;df self-govern- , ment almost at onco; our administration would .. be simplified: and still the number of Civil. ■> sorvants would bo greatly reduced. Wo could \ then seek according to our ability to prose- : \ : cuto our enterprises according to tho resources ; , .'•;, of the country, without coming into conflict, Y 'with tho supreme inditferenco and nariw- \ . ■ mindedness m colonial affairs prevailing in y the' Colonial Department. , . '.;.:-.", : "Wo are also convinced that the development Y of tho mineral resources of the colony' , would, \ under tliei protection, of tho British flag, recoivo an impotus that ,wo have never kuown. ,•■ Proof of this is given by the prosperity of the mining contros in Austi'aha, although : thoir metal • value per ton is much less than' that of minerals- worked in Now Caledonia,; and we 'believe' that for this reason much' ?-.• English capital would bo invested hero almost * ■ immediately. This, while filling our own l ' purses, would , help to wipe out tho deficit in/ the colony's finances. , ..' ' . ■ '.. "Besides, the fact thai colonial votes, which' t wo hay'p' not tho right to,,touch at present, •: , would bo, spent in the , colony as a, matter of;'. ,;' right, wo would no longer to defray tho cost: of administration of Wallis Islands, . : nor even thoso of, Out New Hebrides, be- ' cause, it is well known that Australia, which ' is an English colonjvdoes not pay the 1 cost of administering , the Fiji Islands, which like- .; wise have nothing to dp-with the salaries of the British Resident in tho Now Hebrides and . his staff. i ■ i "You will, therefore,'; sco that tho advant- ' ages will bo mutual, and you may be certain ■ ■ that, although the flag which floats' Over this colony would bo changed, still, as the gift which we advise you to make of this country would permit us, as well, as those who are . '..; dear to us, . appease our hunger, it would appear on your part so great an act of generosity that wo would remain• French in heart ,•.-■' mid soul till death." , ■-.■.'