THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7983, 12 March 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1906.

The New Hebrides agreement which has juat been drawn up between England and France, deals with the last of the questions in diapute between the two Powers at the time of the Anglo-French Convention of 1904. Considering the comparative sinallness of the issues involved, there seeaia to have been a good deal more delay than ueoesaary in arriving at a satisfactory conclusion to the negotiations. It was unlikely from the first that there would be any alteration in the existing system of dual control in the group, for the preliminary agreement provided that there should be no modification of the political "status quo." The chief, and practically the only, mattor of importance was to arrange for the appointment of a Commission to settle the disputes over laud which are such a fruitful oause of trouble between the English and Freuoh settlers. The npture and powers of this Commission have now been 'settled; and under the presidency of a representative of some neutral Power there should be some hope that matters will pro-

ceedi more.- peaceably in the island* thau heretofore. But all efforts in this direction wjll fail- to promote good feeling between tbe opposing parties unless something' is alßo> done Vo prevent the' French paying, for land with arms and spirits.. The British settlers are preveuted from doing this because their own laws- ftorbidi their importation of either arms or spirits, and thejyare consequently placed at a disadvantage in dealing with the natives.. The result: is that the Prauoh have been enabled to secure much more laud and so strengthen France's position in the group. The establishment of a joint) Land Commission in the New Hebrides has j been strongly advocated in Australia, and in so tar as it meets that demand the terms of the agreement will give satisfaction in the Commonwealth:. But there is also a strong feeling that the safety of Australia is imperilled by the close proximity of foreign settlement, aud last August the' r'ederal Parliament unanimously passed' a resolution, amid cheers, to the effect that no settlemeut of the New Hebrides questions would be satisfactory to the Commonwealth whinh did not decide the possession of the group,, "and that the only ownership which can be a-jceptable to Australia is that of Great Britain." Mr Deakiu, in speaking to the motion,, emphasised the fact that on that subject there was-no question of 1 party;, "the resolution represented the feelings of the whole of the people of Australia." There is &ot much hope, therefore, that a settlement which leaves the admittedly unsatisfactory "dual control" unaltered will give much pleasure in Australia. The Commonwealth Parliament will no doubt make further i representations on* the- matter.