The New Hebrides.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 221, 24 September 1887, Page 4

The New Hebrides.

" Le Paris " of August 9 announced that the British Government had requested of M. Flourens, Minister of Foreign Affairs, that France name the date of the evacuation by her troops of the New Hebrides, and that M. Flourens, in reply, declined to do so until France is informed of the nature of England's policy in regard to Egypt, and as to the neutralisation of the Suez Canal. Same date, Sir J. Ferguson, ot the British Foreign Office, stated in the House of Commons that England had never" consented to the presence of French troops in the New Hebrides. He added that the British Government was unwilling to believe that the French occupation of the New Hebrides would long continue, and declared the Government would in no way consent that the withdrawal of the French from the New Hebrides should be postponed until an agreement respecting the neutralisation of the Suez Canal had been reached. The"RepubliqueFrancaise,"August23rd, says, on this subject : "An entente cordiah between England and France in respect to the New Heorides could be easily secured if England were willing to stop the absurd calumnies and rhodomontade of the Australians. (England, who divided New Guinea 'with Germany, cannot oppose the annexation of the $ew Hebrides to France, but

she can demand that the French shall not send their recidivisteS and convicts there. The mutual exercise of gdodwill would banish the present irritation,' which ought never to have existed. " " Le Payso," in its issue of August 25th asserts that an agreement has been reached on the New Hebrides question, and is only waiting the signatures of the proper officials. " Our flag," it says, " will be haxiled down, and our troops evacuate the ports of Sandwich and Port Havannah in obedience to. the yelling of the Australian colonies."