NEW HEBRIDES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1961, 18 December 1906, Page 2

NEW HEBRIDES.

A SENSATIONAL STORY. PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT Melbourne, Deo 17. A sensational story is current showing that Australians narrowly escaped receiving an unpleasant surprise respecting the New Hebrides. Early in the year Germany or German agents almost acquired possession of several plantations, with the object of enabling the German Government to claim equal- consideration with. Britain and France in the future control or partition of the islands. Only prompt action by the Colonial Office appears to have saved the situation. The proposal to establish a joint protectorate by Britain and France apparently suggested that Germany might gain another foothold. in the Pacific by buying estates in the New Hebrides before the convention was signed. The convention, when nearly completed, hung fire for several months, when it was rushed through and signed so quickly that the Commonwealth and New Zealand could not thoroughly critieise its provisions. From what has since been learned it appears fairly certain that German designs forced the hands of the British and French Governments. While the convention was in course (of making, two strangers, who concealed their nationality, landed at the New Hebrides and began overtures for the purchase of estates, offering sums much in advance of current values, but before the purchases were concluded it was found the strangers were representatives of a German syndicate financed by rich men connected with the Pan-German League, if not by the German Government itself. When the news of the signing of the convention arrived the strangers quickly left the group for the Far East.