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(5.)

[Laid before the Convention by the Representatives of Queensland^ DESPATCH RESPECTING TRANSPORTATION OF FRENCH CRIMINALS TO NEW CALEDONIA. The Agent-General for Queensland to The Colonial Secretary, Brisbane. Queensland Government Office, 1, Westminster Chambers, Victoria-street, gir London, 8.W., 21 September, 1883. I have the honor to transmit herewith, for your information, copies of the correspondence which has taken place between the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, and the Embassy at Paris, relative to the transportation of Eelapsed Criminals from France to New Caledonia. I have, &c, THOMAS AECHEE, Agent-General.

The Foreign Office to The Colonial Office. gir Foreign Office, 27 August, 1883. I am directed by Earl'Granville to transmit to you herewith, for the information of the Earl of Derby a copy of a Despatch which His Lordship has addressed to Her Majesty's Minister at Paris, instructing him 'to make a representation to the French Government in the sense suggested in your letter of the 10th instant, respecting the transportation of relapsed criminals from France to New Caledonia. I have, &c, J. PATTNCEFOET.

Earl Granville to Mr. Plunkett. sip Foreign Office, 25 August, 1883. I communicated in due course to the Colonial Office Lord Lyon's despatch, No. 313 of the 9th of May last in which His Excellency reported that the " Transportation of Eelapsed Criminals Hill had passed the first reading in the French Chamber of Deputies, and that New Caledonia and its Dependencies were included amongst the settlements to which relapsed criminals are to be sent. The Earl of Derby has now brought under my notice, in connection with this matter, a pint communication, annexed herewith in copy, which has been addressed to His Lordship by the Agents-General of New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, and Victoria and in which, inter aha, very strong representations are made with a view to the adoption of effective measures for preventing the serious consequences to be anticipated from the above-mentioned resolution of the French Government, by which large numbers of the worst class of criminals would be transported to New Caledonia, where, as it is stated, they would be free. " _ . . And with further reference to this subject, His Lordship has received from the Agent-General ol Queensland a letter, of which copy is also enclosed for your information, and which forwards a telegram from the Premier of the Colony, calling attention to the refusal of the French authorities ot JNew Caledonia to apply for the extradition of criminals who escape from Noumea to Queensland. It is clear that this question, being is one which gravely concerns the welfare of the Australian Colonies, must command the prompt attention of Her Majesty's Government, and I have accordingly to request that you will loose no time in placing yourself in communication with the French Government upon the subject with a view to ascertain what is the course which they propose to pursue ; in the first place as regards the number of convicts to be sent out to the Western Pacific, and as to the position ot such criminals after arrival; and, secondly, with respect to the failure of the Government of JNew Caledonia to demand the extradition of criminals whom they have permitted to escape m the cases pointed out in the above mentioned telegram from the Queensland Government. I am, &c, GEANVILLE.

The Colonial Office to The Foreign Office. gi r Downing-street, 10 August, 1883. I am directed by the Earl of Derby to transmit to you, to be laid before Earl Granville, a copy of a letter from tbo Agent-General for Queensland, forwarding a telegram from the Premier of_ the Colony in which he desires that the attention of Her Majesty's Government may be called to the refusal of the French Authorities in New Caledonia to apply for the extradition of criminals who have escaped from Noumea. . . . 2 In connection with iiiis matter, I am to request Earl Granville s early consideration ol the enclosed copy of a joint letter "from the Agents-General of New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, and Victoria on the subject of New Guinea and the New Hebrides, in which it is strongly urged that measures should be taken to prevent the consequences anticipated from the declared intention of the French Government to transport large numbers of the worst class of criminals to New Caledonia, where they would be free on arrival.

INTERCOLONIAL CONVENTION, 1883.