FRENCH CRIMINALS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1137, 15 February 1884, Page 4

FRENCH CRIMINALS.

The Victorian Premier has received . the Agent-General a of a , Hotter dated August if), and seiitU by The Colonial (Office to'-'the Foreign 'Office on the subject of French con'victs: —“I amdirected by the Earl ‘■df Derby to transmit to you: to be llaifi before Earl Granville, a copy of a better ’from the Agent General for .'Queensland, forwarding a telegram, from the Premier of the co'ony, in which he desires that the attention of 'her Majesty’s 'Government may be •'called to the refusal of the French authorities in New Galedonia tp apply ■ "for the extradition 6f'criminals who ■have escaped from Noumea. In con-, nection with this matter, I am to re- ; -•quest Lord Granville’s early consider-' ation of the enclosed 'Copy of a 'joint, letter from the Ageuts-General of: New South Wales, New Zealand; '■Queensland, and Victoria, on the subjeet, of New Guinea and the New ■Hebrides, in which it is strongly '■urged that measures should be taken to prevent the consequences anticipated from the ■declared‘lntention of the Government to transport large ’-■numbers of the worst class of criminals : to New Caledonia, where they would ! he free-on ‘arrival. Considering the ■ “grave importance ■of this question to the welfare of the Australian ‘cdlomes *it appears to Lord Derby to be nec«s--saiyto obtain explanationsfrom the SFreneh Government as to the course ■ contemplated (1) in regard to the vnumber of convicts proposed‘to be ■sent out, and their position after ar■rival'j and (2) the failure of the Go’vemment of New Caledonia in the ■ case just reported to demand the extradition Of criminals' wh»m ! they have to escape; and Lord Derby ■’would be glad to be enabled to assure ■the government ef Queensland that 'her ‘‘Majesty’s Government has not failed to give prompt attention to the ■ serious representations which have been made'to them, and has oomraußi'Cated with the French Government. II am also ‘to request that Lord’ Granville may be ■ reminded' that in 1881 •the Queensland Legislature passed a •hill to prevent the influx of foreign, •and ■Other criminals into the colony, whichvwas a subject of correspondence between ■ this department and the (Foreign Office, This bill did notat that time receive Her Majesty’s assent, as objection was taken to the --unequal incidence of certain of its, ' provisions; but under the circumstances now reported, and having re- ; gard to the contemplated increase in. 'ihe-numbei of French convicts to be 'transported to the Western Pacific, vit appears to Lord Derby that it will not be possible ■to continue to resist I such legislation.” !