PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF NEW HEBRIDES BY FRANCE. (PAPERS RELATING THERETO.) (In continuation of A.-4, 1888.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1889 Session I, A-03

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1889. NEW ZEALAND.

PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF NEW HEBRIDES BY FRANCE. (PAPERS RELATING THERETO.) (In continuation of A.-4, 1888.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Agent-Genebal to the Peemieb. Sib,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., sth April, 1888. I beg to enclose copy of a letter from the Colonial Office covering copy of a circular despatch addressed by Lord Knutsford to the Governors of Australasian Colonies, officially announcing the evacuation of the French military posts at the New Hebrides. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure. Sib,— Colonial Office, Downing Street, 31st March, 1888. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the New Hebrides, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a circular despatch which his Lordship has addressed to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies on the subject of the evacuation of the French posts. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. John Bbamston.

Sub-Enclosure. Sie, — Downing Street, 1888. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Government, a copy of a telegram which has been received by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty from the Commander-in-Chief on the Australasian Station, relating to the evacuation of the French military posts in the New Hebrides. I have, &c.

Telegbam from Commander-in-Chief, Australia. D. Auckland, E. Admiralty, 24th March, 1888. —"Evacuation French military post, New Hebrides, carried out March 15."

No. 2. The Agent-General to the Peemieb. Sib,— 16th May, 1888. I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a letter I have received from the Colonial Office, with its enclosures, relating to the official announcement of the evacuation of the French military posts in the New Hebrides. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

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Enclosure. Sir,— Downing Street, sth May, 1888. With reference to the letter from this department of the 31st March, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, for your information, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, with its enclosure, containing the official announcement of the evacuation of the French military posts in the New Hebrides. Despatches have been sent to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies containing similar information. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Edward Wingfield.

Sub-enclosure 1. The Under- Secretary of State, Foreign Office, to the Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Sir,— Foreign Office, 23rd April, 1888. I am directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you herewith, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, copy of a note from the French Charge d'Affaires in this country reporting the evacuation of the New Hebrides by the French troops. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. P. W. Currib.

Sub-enclosure 2. M. le Maequis,— '■ Ambassade de France, Londres, 19 Avril, 1888. Conformement aux termes de la Convention du 16 Novembre, 1887, relative aux NouvellesHebrides et aux lies sous-le-vent de Tahiti, le premier de ces archipels a ete evacue par les troupes francaises. J'ai l'honneur de faire connaltre a V.S. que cette operation a ete effectuee le 15 du mois dernier. Yeuillez agreer, &c, M. le M. de Salisbury, &c. Jusserand.

No. 3. The Agent-Genebal to the Premier. Sir,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 23rd June, 1888. I beg to enclose a parliamentary paper just presented to both Houses of the Imperial Parliament, containing the declaration signed on the 30fch May between the British and French Governments abrogating the declaration of the 19th June, 1847, concerning Eaiatea and the islands to the leeward of Tahiti. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure. Declaeation for the Abrogation of the Declaration of the 19th June, 1847, between Great Britain and France concerning the Islands to the leeward of Tahiti. Article V. of the Convention of the 16th November, 1887, relative to the New Hebrides and the islands to the leeward of Tahiti, having stipulated that the Government of Her Britannic Majesty will proceed to abrogate the declaration of the 19th June, 1847, between Great Britain and France respecting the group of islands to the leeward of Tahiti, as soon as the French military posts shall have been withdrawn from the New Hebrides, the two Governments, after having made certain that the posts were withdrawn on the 15th March, 1888, declare that at that date the abovementioned declaration ceased to exist, and that it remains null and void. In witness whereof Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Paris, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the French Eepublic, have signed this declaration, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms. Done in duplicate at Paris, the 30th day of May, 1888. (1.5.) Lytton. (1.5.) Ben£ Goblet. [Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, nil; printing (1,300 copies), £1 Is. 6d.]

By Authority : George Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB9.

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