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The Foreign Otfice to the Colonial Office. ' :.:-•• . r ■-■-.-- Sic,— Foreign Office, July 11, ISB3. I have laid before Earl Granville your latter of the 2nd instant, communicating the Earl of Derby's observations in regard to a remark made by Count d'Aunay in the course of conversation with Lord Granville, in regard to a supposed understanding between England and France on the question of annexations in New Guinea, and I am now to enclose, for Lord Derby's information, a., copy of an instruction which Lord Granville has in consequence addressed to Her Majesty's Ambassabor in Paris. I have, &c. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. J. Pauncefote.

Enclosure. ' My Loed,- — Foreign Office, July 7, 1883. I have to inform your Excellency that I communicated to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonial Department a copy of my despatch to you, of the 20th ultimo, recording a conversation which I had had with Count d'Aunay on the question, among other matters, of the intentions of Her Majesty r's Government in regard to annexation in New Guinea, in the course of which the French Charge d'Affaires adverted to a supposed understanding between the Governments of England and France that neither country should adopt a policy of annexation in that quarter without previous notice and agreement. .■'■ : The Earl of Derby has in reply called attention to the fact that Her Majesty's Government are not aware of the existence of any such agreement or understanding with the French Government in the case of New Guinea, and suggests that it may not be unlikely that the mutual assurances given by both Governments in 1878 in respect of the independence of the New Hebrides, may have been in Count d'Aunay's mind when referring to New Guinea. Although the matter has no practical bearing after the assurances given by M. d'Aunay^.and afterwariis by the President of the Council, that the French Government had. no intention of interfering with the Island of New Guinea, I have to request that your Excellency will take an early opportunity of putting this matter right with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I have, &c. • ..■■•■ His Excellency the Viscount Lyons, G.C.B. Geanville.

No. 6. Lord Lyons to the Eight Hon. the Earl Geanville. My Loud,— Paris, July 17, 1883.: With reference to my despatch of the 14th instant, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship a copy of a note verbale which was sent to me last evening by M. Ch. Lacour in answer to that which, in execution of instructions from your Lordship, I addressed to him on the subject df New Guinea. The note states that the French Government, like that of Her Majesty, is unaware of any exchange of views having taken place between the two countries with regard to New Guinea. It appears from it, however, that the French Government desire to receive a written answer to the note verbale respecting the New Hebrides, which was given to your Lordship by the French Charge d'Affaires, on the 10th instant. I have, ko. The Earl Granville, E.G. Lyons.

Enclosure. :. Paris, le 16 Juillet,, 1883. ~ .; Le Ministre dcs Affaires Etrangeres a I'honneur de transmettre a Son Excellence I'Ambassadeur d'Angleterre la note verbale ci-jointe. M. Ch. Lacoue, Saisit etc.

Sub-Enclosure. Paris, le 16 Juillet, 1883. La note verbale que Son Excellence I'Ambassadeur d'Angleterre a Paris a bien voulu faire parvenir de 14 de cc mois au Ministre dcs Affaires Etrangeres de referer a une conversation que le Charge d'Affaires de France a Londres a eu le 20 Juin dernier avec Son Excellence le Comte Granville, et dans laquelle il aurait fait allusion a une entente supposee entre les Gouvernements Francais et Britanniques touchant la Nouvelle Guinee. :; Pas plus que le Cabinet de Londres, celui de Paris n'a connaissance que la Nouyelle Guinee ait jamais fait entre les deux pays I'objet dun echange de vues, et Ton s'explixu d'autant moms le inal-entendu gui parait s'etre produit dans l'entretien sus-mentionne, que le Comte d'Aunay etait uniquemeut charge de rappeler les declarations faites en 1878 par les deux Gouvernements au sujet de l'Archipel dcs Nouvelles Hebrides. • 6x3 Si quelque doute a cet egard avait pu rester dans l'esprit dcs Miuistres de la Eeine, il n'aurait pas manque d'etre entierement dissipe par les termes de la note que le Charge d'Affaires de France a remise, le 10 de cc mois, a Son Sxcelience le Comte Granville, et gui etait destine a etablir -que les declarations de 1878 conservaient toute leur valeur a nos yeux. .. . Les explications fournies depuis lors au Parlement Angiais nous donnent la confiance' que la response dv Gouvernement de Sa. Majeste . Britannique a. notre. derniere communication., ne