A.—-3b

8

tardera pas k constater definitivement I'accord gui parait subsister dans les intentions dcs deux pays relatives a l'Archipel dcs Nouvelles Hebrides.

No. 7. The Colonial Office to the Admiealty. Sib,— Downing Street, July 24, 1883. I am directed by the Earl of Derby to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant in connection with the proposal for the annexation of New Guinea. Lord Derby is glad to observe that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty intend to instruct Commodore Erskine to take an early opportunity of sending one of Her Majesty's ships to visit the coast of New Guinea, and trusts that provision will be made for the presence of a man-of-war on the coast of New Guinea without any avoidable interruption for some time to come. I am to state that Lord Derby would be glad if their Lordships would cause him to be informed whether it is proposed to instruct Commodore Erskine by telegraph, for in that case it will be necessary to communicate by the same means with Mr. Eomilly, a Deputy Commissioner under the Western Pacific Order in Council, who will be directed to proceed from Sydney to New Guinea, and it will doubtless be convenient that he should be allowed passage in the vessel which will be detailed for the service above referred to, should there be no objection. I am, &c. The Secretary of the Admiralty. Eobeet G. W. Heebebt.

No. 8. The Foeeign Office to the Colonial Office. Sib,— Foreign Office, August 6, 1883. With reference to the letter of the 11th ultimo, from this department, I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you herewith for the information of the Earl of Derby, copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, enclosing copy of a note verbale addressed by His Excellency to the French Government on the subject of New Guinea. I am, &c. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Philip W. Cubeie.

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Enclosure. My Loed,— Paris, July 14, 1883. I had the honour the day before yesterday to receive your Lordship's despatch of the 7th instant, directing me to point out to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs that Her Majesty's Government are not aware of the existence of any agreement between Great Britain and France that neither country shall adopt a policy of annexation in New Guinea without previous agreement with the other. I enclose a copy of a memorandum or note verbale which I have in consequence presented to the French Minister. I have, &c. The Earl Granville, K.G. Lyons.

Bub-Enclosure. Paris, July 14, 1883. In the course of a conversation which he had with Earl Granville on the 20th June last, Count D'Aunay, the French Charge d'Affaires, in speaking of New Guinea, adverted to a supposed understanding between the Governments of Great Britain and of France, that neither country should adopt a policy of annexation in that quarter without previous notice and agreement. On the 27th of the same month Lord Lyons, in pursuance of instructions from Lord Granville, recited the substance of the conversation in question to His Excellency M. Jules Ferry, President of the Council, who had charge of the Department of Foreign Affairs in the absence of H.E. Monsieur Challemel Lacour. Her Majesty's Government are not aware of any agreement or understanding in the case of New Guinea, such as that adverted to by Count D'Aunay, and they think it probable that the mutual assurances given by the two 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. They regard, however, with satisfaction the assurances given by Count d'Aunay to Lord Granville and repeated by the President of the Council to Lord Lyons that the French Government has no designs of annexation in New Guinea.

No. 9. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord A. Loftus, G.C.B. to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Debby. My Lobd, — Sydney, August 4, 1883. I have the honour to enclose to your Lordship, by desire of Mr. Alexander Stuart, Colonial Secretary and Premier of this colony, a letter, with its enclosures, which he has addressed to me, conveying the views of this Government on the subject of the New Guinea annexation. 2. Your Lordship will observe that this correspondence is confined to the question of annexing New Guinea, and no mention is made of the annexation of the New Hebrides or other Pacific Islands.