NEW HEBRIDES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1764, 2 June 1906, Page 2

NEW HEBRIDES.

DEPUTATION TO FEDERAL AND NEW ZEALAND PREMIERS.

STIRRING STEECII BY MR SEDDON.

By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association—Copyright.

Received 10.55 p.m , June 1

Melbourne, June 1. A deputation representing the Presbyterian Mission in-, the New Hebrides waited on Mr Dcakin and Mr Scddon. They urged the critical state of affairs if the islands pass to the French. The question was approaching a crisis. They urged Mr Scddon, who was one of the strongest men in the Empire, to admit the products of New Hebrides. That would be one of the means of solidifying

Australian interests. . Australia had refused to give preference to the products of the group. They hoped Mr Seddon would show a better example. Mr Deakin, replying, said he would not occupy time, so that the deputation might hear Mr Scddon, who had made a deep study of the question. He hoped a result of his conference with Mr Seddon would be to secure some satisfactory arrangement. Mr Seddon, replying, said he hoped public opinion would be awakened to the dangers of delay, and that steps would be taken to settle the question for all time. New Hebrides were at one time in commission for New Zealand, that was a providence watching over them, but stupid men , undid the work. He lengthily referred to the work of Downing Street in the past, in its relation to Caledonia, Hawaii, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa.. Coming back to New Hebrides, he said the cause of tho trouble was the supineness of the British Government. What he objected to was that in these great questions they were sent despatches marked confidential. Why did the Imperial Government put them in that position ? They made these things eonfidential and secret, and when public opinion might be aroused and swayed for the good of.the Empire they could not .say wliat was going on, and yet their liberties and privileges were being infringed so that they were almost tired of it.

Mr Deakin : Hear, hear, Beoeived 11.15 p.m., June 1

Mr Seddon continued ; “ I stand here to-day with my hands tied. Wbat are they afraid of ? They say it will prejudice their position with friendly nations. The fact is it will prejudice our position, Hence there will be no hekage,” but, he added, while he noticed the Imperial Government were anxious to have the proposed Convention secret it was published in the French papers. The native phase had not been equitably considered by the Imperial Government. The natives were entitled to as much consideration as the Maoris received. They owned the land, and tbeir interest should be conserved. He bad one cable from the British Government, “ Tbaoks very muoh for assistanoe rendered.” He did not want thanks, He wanted action. They were now asked to revise the pioiisioual agreement. There

had beeD no one to represent Australia and New Zealand in drawing up the Convention. He did not mean to Bay anything about the people representing Britain, but if they were to be judged by the agreement sent out heie they k iew very little of the subjeot. The French, however, had not been eo unmindful of their people's interests. He admired the Frenoh diplomacy, but Australia and New Zealand bad cause to complain that in a matter in which they were bo deeply interested they bad not been oonsulted. They ought to have been. He Bgreed with the deputation tbat if they could get the Frenoh to abandon tbeir interests in New Hebrides, receiving compensation in some other country from Britain, it would be a proper eolation of diffiou ty. New Zealand would adhere to the position she took np from the first, and representations would follow from tbe Commonwealth and New Zealand on these lines. Tbe boldeßt course was the best. It was the right oourse to erase what their views were in the io'e ests of the Empire and Australasia.

Received 11.45 p.m„ June 2. Sydney, June 1. Mr SeddoD, continuing, raid that when New Z laland had suggested division of the islands rather than a protectorate it was painful to her, but in view of what had happened in the paßt, aud in view of the

Eaot that Britain had surrendered her

interests to other nations, he believed the better way was to divide the islands, and make one section French and the other British. France as a ooloniser had not been over Buooessful. The ohanoes were the Britisher would be so sueeessful that it was only a question of lime when the Frenoh colonists would throw their lot in with them. There was a danger of France trading her interests to Amerioa, and where Bhe went she would apply her ship ping laws, Mr Deakin and himself would do their best to make the protectorate suoh as to prevent danger arising to the natives and British settlers. The joii.t commission over the New Hebrides should have the right to oonolude reoiprooal treaties with New Zealand and Australia.

Mr Deakin,in reply to a question, said: Nothing will be confirmed without hearing our views.

Mr Seddon added: We decided to strongly reoommend that there should be one code of laws for every soul in tho place.