FRANCE AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3914, 5 February 1884, Page 4

FRANCE AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

A SENSATIONAL REPORT. Considerable sensation has been caused in Melbourne by the publication of the following paragraph in the Age:—" It is somewhat strange that littlo or no notice has as yet been taken in Australia of the recent appearance among us of two French Government officials of high standing in their country. Both gentlemen, it is woll known, are here upon confidential missions from the French Government, and they do not deny tho fact, inasmuch as they announce their business upon their visiting cards. In Europe the arrival of any person of note in the military or diplomatic world, in a foreign country, is generally an absorbing topiccf conversation. Australians, however, do not seem to understand that a 0 -reat European nation does not send confidential agents upon special missions without having some ulterior object in view. The secret is easily explained when the roiraons are considered in connection with recent events in Paris and Sydney. The French Government is determined to send out to the Islands in the Pacific 80,000 of tho worst criminals. Tho Premiers of tho Australian colonies meet in Sydney, and announce their determination to resist tho attempt. France orders a strong fleet of men-of-war to proceed to the Pacific. Baron Mh-hel. formerly v naval officer, who served in tho Crimean war, and is at pr, sent attached to the offi-.e ot" the Minister of War, i.s sent to Au-tralia. Then follows M. Cormoaiix with a im.-uioti from tho Mi- i-tcr of Marine to lh«colonies. What docs it, all mean? There is a rumor 'n town that M. 'Jurineaux, who is m-w in Sydney, is proceeding to Noumea for th>> purpose of _oiny to the New Hebrides, and the 1.-lamls, to hoist, the French flag; and the French Government is justifying its action upon tho ground that Kngiaud has broken the compact by having recently taken possession of tho Island of Rotumali, which is 200 miles distant from Fiji. Several ' Melbourne papers arc sending special correspondents to Noumea to watch the movements of the French Government agents."