A NEW STORM.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 496, 7 August 1902, Page 4

A NEW STORM.

FRENCHMEN AND THE NEW HEBRIDES.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, Aug. 6. French newspapers published in the New Hebrides and Noumea continue to show resentment at the despatch of Australian emigrants to the New Hebrides and a] .! to the French Government to step in • . p;event Great Britain annexing. One says : “ While the sublime patriots in South Africa held the veldt England concealed her intention, but now her hands are free she throws aside the mask, confident of her own strength, and knowing the incapacity of our Government. The time of caution having passed she resolutely assets her supposed rights to the islands to-day. Unless there is an extraordinary concurrence of circumstances and sudden awakening of national energy, the New Hebrides will ho lost to France, then New Caledonia will follow.”

Another says : “ Let us end the dispute and make Eugland understand that own ing threcqua.'ters of the land represented in the islands in the proportion of three Frenchmen to one English, we cannot but take possession of an archipelago so necessary to the security of our neighbour, New Caledonia.”

Recently a movement was started amongst the big mining companies there in favor of i revival of transportation to New Caledonia. A gentleman deputed by the Noumea Chamber of Commerce left Sydney for France to protest to the French Government against any such a revival.