NAVAL POWER IN THE PACIFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 78956, 11 August 1905, Page 3

NAVAL POWER IN THE PACIFIC.

THE POSITIOS OF THE HEW HEBRIDES THEY MOST BE BRITISH. (Received Aug. 10, 9.42 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Aug. 10. In the House oi Representatives today, Mr Johnson moved that in view of the certainty of enormous trade development along the Pacific route to the East whin tire Panama Canal is opened, the question ot control of ti.e islands suitable for native bases between Australia and Panama is of the highest importance to British ar.d Australian commercial interests ; that '.the strategical position of the New Hebrides, with its exceptional harbour facilities, renders it imperative in the interest of British and Australian commerce that their con- 1 trol shall not''pass into the hands of a foreign naval power, and that for these reasons it is desirable to provide every reasonable facility for the promotion ol British and Australian settlement to the New Hebrides. SERIOUS GROUNDS FOR COMPLAINT Time for Diplomacy Past. Australia Most Speal Oat. (Received Aug. 11, 0.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Aug. 10. Mr Johnson urged the necessity of Australia doing something to counteract French influence in the New Hebrides, whiph is now all directed to annexation. Mr McCoy said it was lamentable that Great Britain alone among the nations seemedi to th\nk it not her constant dutyto watch the interests of her possessions in the Pacific. (The | British Government, he said, appeared unaiutc to recognise the importance of the matter ami the serious consequences to Australia if the Islands were absorbed foreign nations. Australia had serious ground for complaint. It was time she spoke out definitely and emphatically to the Imperial Government. Several other speakers similarly eonstdered the tame for diplomatic representations had passed. Mr Thompson considered the motion should be in a more definite form, and moved : "That the representations already made jby fhe Commonwealth to the British Government should, in the interests of the natives and settlers and Australians be renewed and strengthened, that immediate establishment of a joint Land Commission is imperative, so constituted that Its decisions should be just, prompt and eflective, thai, the delay which has occurred is to be deeply regretted, and no settlement Will be. satisfactory to> the Commonwealth which does not decide the possession Of the New Hebrides ; further, that the only ownership acceptable to Australians that of Great Britain, which is justified by the history of the development of "trade with thellslands, and fy the wislips of the nafive population." Mr . Johnson accepted Sir Thompson's motion in place ot his own. Mr Deakrn, Premier, said the Government were in entire and beatty sympathy with the "motion. Australian interests, were necessarily directed to secure' the islands to prevent their being used as hostile bases. Nothing bad. been done since the Anglo-French* agreement was signed. He included in the motion that a despatch be sent to the Imperial Government containing the report ot the deputation which recently wailed upon him. The motion was carried on the voices. THE GERHX REGULATIONS. Hope (or Satisfaction Expressed. (Received Aug. 10, 11 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 10. Count MeMeinick, German Ambassador, in an interview, assured Lord Lansdowne that the new regulations regarding the Western Pacific would be immediately. The German Government hope (hey will prove so satisfactory as to Vo away with the necessity of pressing a further claim.