NEW HEBRIDES CONVENTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81905, 18 December 1906, Page 3

NEW HEBRIDES CONVENTION

REASON FOR HASTY CONCLI'SIOX TO THWART GEIIMAN DESIGNING Melbourne, December 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 Great Britain and France in the future control or partition of the islands.

Only prompt action by the Colonial Oliiee appears to have saved the situation, the proposal to establish a joint protectorate by Britain and France being apparently tlien suggested. Germany might have gamed another foothold in the Paeilic by buying estates in the New Hebrides before the Convention was signed. When nearly completed the Convention hung lire for several months, when it was rushed through and signed so quickly that the Commonwealth and New Zealand could not thoroughly criticise its provisions.

While the Convention was in course of making, two si ranger:., who coucealei their nationality, tainted in the New Hebrides and began overtures for the purchase of estates, ottering sums uiucii in advance of current values, but before the purchases ,\eiv concluded it was found tn.i rangers were representatives oi a Gi ....an syndicate, liuanced by rich .iieu connected with the Pan Germanic League, if not by the German Government itself.

When the news of the signing of the (Juuveutiou arrived the strangers quietly left the group fur the i'ur Lust.