Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1901. SOUTH PACIFIC DOCTRINE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 12 November 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1901. SOUTH PACIFIC DOCTRINE.

As President Munroe of the United States of America in 1818 declared that no further annexations by European powers must be made on the American Continent, and gave to that declaration the now well-known name of “ The Munroe Doctrine,” so Mr Barton seems determined to enunciate a similar formula in regard to the Pacific Islands lying to the south of the equator. Already we are told that French statesmen have taken the alarm. The Australian Commonwealth is now a power that has to be calculated with, and the British Government, after the splendid services rendered by Australian troops in South Africa is not likely to idly athwart Australian in her laudable desire. This was very clearly demonstrated when Mr. Chamberlain proposed to hand over the New Hebrides to France in exchange for her New Foundland fisheries rights. Mr. Barton entered a firm protest and the proposal was immediately dropped, and to-day the idea of ceding the New Hebrides to France is just about as unlikely as the ceding of the Channel Islands. At the Melbourne Mayoral banquet yesterday, Mr. Barton’s statement regarding the future policy of the Commonwealth admits of no misunderstanding. It is a clear and defined South Pacific Doctrine. And a first step in the line of annexation and federation is the determination to take over the control of New Guinea, or at least that part of it that forms part of the British dominions. The : island, which in size is only rivalled by ' Australia, is separated from the latter by 1 Torres Strait, and therefore lies well within the Australian sphere of ] influence. New Guinea is, moreover, ■ an important possession, with undeveloped resources of unknown , potentiality, and had the advice of ] Australian statesmen been heeded by (

the Imperial Government long ago New Guinea might have been wholly, instead of partially, a British colony. However, now that it is about to come under the direct control of the Commonwealth, a great development of the hitherto neglected territory may be anticipated. Excepting a coastal fringe and an unimportant region in the north-west, New Guinea is a terra incognia, and very little is known concerning its resources. Alluvial gold in small quantities has been found in some places, and from the general character of the country Australian miners who have been there express the opinion that valuable auriferous deposits will yet be found. Jarrah forests of enormous extent are known to exist, and tropical products of considerable importance will be numbered'among the resources of the island. While Australia is advancing her claims to the Islands of the Southern Seas, she has by her tariff flouted New Zealand for not joining the Commonwealth and raised a strong objection to the attempt made by this colony to have Fiji federated. This is not at all neighborly to a colony flying the same flag and showing even greater loyalty to Britain than Australia. It however, exhibits the trend of Australian feeling; that Australia must be supreme in the South Pacific. Should Fiji throw in its lot with Australia, then the claims of the Commonwealth upon the New Hebrides and other intermediate islands would be considerably strengthened. Such a federation, as Australian statesmen contemplate, would create a power in the future in the southern hemisphere that will make its influence felt on the British side in a fashion that will enforce respect from foreign rivals. At the same time the great youth Commonwealth might have adopted a more conciliatory policy towards New Zealand. Very small seeds of dissention have grown to serious proportions before now and the unmistakable attack by Mr Barton on the trade of this colony may imperceptibly at first, but, nevertheless, all the more surely, create a feeling it would be difficult to remove.