THE NEW HEBRIDES. England's Action in the Matter.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 158, 26 June 1886, Page 2

THE NEW HEBRIDES. England's Action in the Matter.

London, June 17. Iv the House of Commons to-day, Mr Bryce (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs), in replying to a question, stated that M. de Freycinet, the French Premier, had renewed the assurances previously given, that ' France would respect ths independence of the New Hebrides ; but that Lord Lyons* the British Ambap&ador at Paris, had been instructed to call attention to the fact that the hoisting of the flag in that group had occasioned great excitement in the Australian colonies. Mr Bryce further stated that the captain of ET.M.S. Undine had been ordered to proceed to the New Hebrides to report to the Government as to the actual state of affairs in the group. Sir Robert Herbert, Permanent Undersecretary for the Colonies, informed Mr Graham B9rry, the Agent General for Victoria, that the Government had decided to forward a request to the French Government that the hew Hebrides should be evacuated by its troops as soon as fear of outrages on French subjects had been removed. The " Pall Mall Gazette " in an article on the New Hebrides question, contends that Lord Lyons, the British Ambassador at Paris, should demand his passport from the French Government, if the French flag is not hauled down. Mr Berry, in his despatch, states that, ' unless the French Government can prove that any of their countrymen have been massacred, occupation of the islands should immediately cea&o. If is considered that the natives are dangerous, then Eng land has equal right to similarly occupy the islands. Since the details regarding the doepatch of the warship Dives have arrived Mr Berry has had an interview with Earl Granville, and protested to him against the flagrant breach by France of the agreoment with England, and ure;ed that prompt action could alone prevent the absolute annexation of the New Hebrides. •■> London, June IS. Tt is stated in Pane that five rnastacros have occurred at the New Hebrides, and that, although troops wore landed, 'hcie was no formal hoisting of the French colours.