FRENCH MOVEMENTS IN THE PACIFIC.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 162, 4 September 1880, Page 3

FRENCH MOVEMENTS IN THE PACIFIC.

In our hst issue we re-published from the Auckland Weekly News of IJlst July, an article relative to the movements of tfi. French in the Society Croup, in which it is stated that the Germnu Government was desirions of establishing a protoetorate over the Inland of ltuiatea, and in the same article grave reflections are cast on the captain of the German war-ship Bismarck. We now learn on good authority that the statement in that : article as to the desire of the German ! Government to assume a protectorate ! over Raiatea is unfounded, as is also the allegation that the Germans got the I King of that Island on board the Uismarck. i on the occasion of the visit of that 'vestel to Raiatea, and induced him to sign a document while he was under the indue' ce of dunk. As proving that there are two sides to this question, as to most others, wo re-print in this issue, from the Auckland Evening Star of 22nd June last, a notice which shows, in rather an unfavourable light, the action of ihn French authorities in regard to the Islands of Raiatea, Bora Dora, aud Huahine, whose independence has been guaranteed by an agreement berr-—_ Euglaud anil Franco. If the procedure attributed to the commander of the French man-of-war in tho two articles previoualy referred to be true, then a flagrant breach of this agreement has been committed. For the information of our readers we append a translation of the Agreement.— Declaration, exchanged at London, on the 10th of June 1847, between France and Great Britain, relating to the independence of the Islands of Huahine, Kaintea, and Bora Bora. His Majesty the King of, the French and Her Majesty tho Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, desirous to remove a cause of discussion between their respective Governments regarding tbe Islands of th,e Pacific Ocean named hereafter, have thought it their dutv to engage themselves reciprocally: I. —To acknowledge formally the independence of the Islands of Huahine. Raiatea, and Bora Bora (to the leeward of Tahiti;, and of the small islands in the vicinity being dependent on them. 2.—Never to take possession of said Islands, neither of one nor of several of them, be it absolutely or ur.dor the title' of a protect'irate, or under any other form whatever. .'!.—Never to consent that a Chief or Prince reigning at Tahiti should be allowed at tho same time to rule over one or several of tho other said Islands, and wee eersa that a Chief or Prince ruling over one or several of the latter should be allowed to reign at the same at Tahiti, the mutual independence) of the above-named Islands and of tho Island'Of Tahiti and dependency being agreed upon in principle. The Undersiguud, Minister Plenipotentiary of His Mnjesly the King of the French at the Court of London, and the Chief Secretary of State for Foreign affairs of Her British Majesty, provided with the necessary powers, declare in consequence by these presents that their Majesties accept reciprocally this engagement. In proof thereof the Undersigned have signed the present Declaratiou and have affixed their coat-of-arms. Hone twofold at London on the l!)th of June, in the year of grace 1847. (Signed) Jaknac. Pai.mkksto.v. [tKOM THK AI'CKI.ANK KVKXI.NCi ST.U!, 22X1) jrxi:, 1880.] A passenger by tho schooner Ovalau, which arrived from tho Society Islands on Sunday morning, has kindly given us tho following particulars relative to some very strange conduct on the part of tho French Commissioner at Tahito:—lt will be remembered that cf the Society Islands, Tahite and the Paumotu Group alone belong to France, the remainder being under the joint protectorate of England, America, and France. About April the 2flth the French Commissioner, aeting under the orders of thw Governor of Tahite and accompanied by u French man-of-war, proceeded to Kaiatea, one of the largest islands of tho Group, and to tho astonishment of tho residents hoisted the French flag there. A formal protest was at onco entered by tho English aud American inhabitants, who also immediately forwarded an account of the affair to tho English Consul at Tahite. The same day 11.M.5. Osproy arrived from Valparaiso and tho Consul sent her to Raiatea to objeot on behalf of England. This was done, and tho two men-of-war (French and English) then proceeded to another island of the group called Bora Bora, whero the French also announoed their intention of hoisting their Hag. The native kiug of Bora Bora, he.vover, objeoted very strongly, and olaimed tho protection of England. He even declared his willingness to hoist the English ensign if tho captain of tho Osproy would only balk the French. That gentleman said thnt he could not possibly give the King authority to hoist the English ting, hut if he liked to do so without authority ho might. Tho King then avowed his intention of rousing his people and resisting tho French by force. When the French Commissioner heard thin, ho visited the captain of the Osproy, and invited him to hoist the English ensign ot) Bora Bom, saying his only object was to Ic cap the Germans, whom he heard were coining, out of tho South Pacific. " If you will hoist vour ensign," said the (lommhwlonor, " I will kiss you on both ohooki." Tho captain retorted that Its might kiss him on any part of the b-nli- lit plra*cd, hut

that he belonged to a nation that respected treaties and consequently could not entertain suoh proposals, "and he protested formally against the a<tbii of the French in seizing Raiaitua. The iL-tiou of the King renders it itupraoti•able for the French to take Bora Bora without bloodshed. Tie French inan-of-var, followed hy the Osprey, proceedec to another island, Hiiahiue, where the same, procedure was gone through. When tho Oyalau left Tahita, the French Com-missiom-r was threatening to return to Bora Bom with an armed force and to make the inhabitants accent a French nag.