CONTROL OF THE NEW HEBRIDES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 127, 22 February 1919, Page 7

CONTROL OF THE NEW HEBRIDES

DISCUSSED BY PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY ' ACTION BY MR. MASSEY By Telegraph—Press- Association. Christcliurch, February 21. At tho Presbyterian General Assembly to-night, speaking to the report on foreign missions, Professor Hewitson referred to tho New Hebrides question. Ho said that the sum total of tho whole matter was that if tho islands passed into the possession of Franco British, missionares could pack <ip, for their work would bs impossible. Tho Condominium Ims been a.ghastly failure. Tho J?ev. Alexander Morton, previously a missionary iiv the New Hebrides, said lie trusted that Australia and New Zealand would never ngrctf to tho islands passing into the hands of the French. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitkcn said that in view of certaiu information which the Foreign Missions Committee had received, to tho effect that it was not at all unlikely that France would be allowed to retain the New Hebrides, ho had cabled Mr Massoy, urging him (the Prime Minister) to rise every means in his power to prevent tho group from going out of their hands and to bring alxmt tho condition that they should have full control, lie had received tho following reply from Mr, M'assey.— "With reference to your telegram: Only raptured German territories are be. ing dealt 'with by the Peace Conference, .but I have discussed with tho Secretary of Stftto for the Colonies the position of the New Hebrides, and I liopo that better arrangements may be made later on." This meant, Mr. Aitken said, that tho New Hebrides wore excluded because they were never in the hands of Germany and had not been taken from Germany. As a Church and as individuals they should never cease, morning and evening, to pra.y that the hearts of those who had this matter in hand might be so guided and directed that tho outcome and end would be hat the New Hebrides would belong to Britain.