NEW CALEDONIANS,

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 201, 19 May 1908, Page 7

NEW CALEDONIANS,

PETITION FOR CESSION TO BRITAIN. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYEUGU7. Sydney, May. 18. Tourists from Noumea state that petitions asking that Nefr Caledonia b6 ceded to Britain are being' largely signed there, arid will Shortly be forwdrded to the French Government. . . : ' "GiVE US TO ENGLAND." . A • petitibriV was. in circulation in- New Caledonia last year, the fet of which was published in./ Australian newspapers. Part of it, reads as follows , "Since these are times of ehtente cordiale with England, and as small presents have the power to maintain friendship,, wb pray you. to be willing to give us to England, •:and we feel: suro that in return England could hot.but.re-' iturn your act of courtesy in smiio form or 'other, the value of which would bd at'least as. groat.. i -.; -, - . , ■ , .'' " . _ "The. advantages that we; would mutually' derive . (from this. arrangement) : wbiild lievery great. ,For your jpart.vyoU would' ho-longßr lihvq to t roil tile youi'sdlf about us; ybti tl-diild; receive lib furthel- demands from, us, arid oUf lotid- conlplhirits .would not- disturb: your vre-: pose. ■ (Nos criailleries ne ■ troublero'nt ■ plus votre digestion!) .:<■ ,'v ( "Oh our side, we havo the firm belief that we. would , receive bur right of self-govern-niont Alihost dt once; biir auiiiiiiistratibn would be simplified j and still the niimbet' nf Civil servants Would be greatly reduced. Wo could theii se£k according to our ability to: prosecute our enterprises, accbtdjng ,to'jtlje ie?ources bf| the ibuhtry,'. without-' 'iilto* t'ofiflict with the supreme indifference and jiarrowmin'dediifcss . in colonialaffairs' prevailing iii, the-(joloniitl; Department." . .1; '; /Australe,".a,. French* newspaper ptiblisnfed iii Ndttniea,' tlie"-.&ap}tiil of 'Ne\frGAledoliiay' domiilisiitfed' 'that-: thoujjli iprahce : is"a crUel. stepnlbtlier ( " thbilgh ''poverty • liiay etUSK the ■-. Caleildliian's,",'- they yet'.: "prefer. French nationality 5 . . '.and they.'-inban that) like them, tljeir children shall remain Ereneh." The "Bulletin dii CbihmferQfe".wrbtfe"ln" view of the abandonment of and contempt, lor their rights, flf whibh'.'they hro . the ' victiihs.i . Caledonians afb'iiot deceived) arid only know that declaration, bf, M. Chauteiilps; (a fonAor Minister for tho Colonies', and a militant .advocate bf colonial policy), l that New Calcdohiii, and Tahiti are for .'exchange : for i'ribriey, is, proved by soma members, bf thd Minietrj* arid Parliament. • , •••