H.—l9.

Lsurs solutions, auxquelles s'attaehe un reel interet international, n'auront que plus d'autorite si elles resultent de l'eahange de vifes et de l'accord des seuls juges competents, en pareille matiere, a savoir, les Ministres des Affaires Exterieures des Metropoles interessees. Aussi le Vice-Consul de France soussigne n'hesite-t-il pas a, fairs connaitre a, l'Honorable Ministre de I'Bducation do Nouvelle-Zelande que les Ministeres des Affaires Efcrangeres et de la Marine, a Paris, sont deja saisis officiellement par diverses autorites diplomatiques, consulaires et coloniales fran^aises de la question d'extradition mentionnee plus haut, ainsi que des principaux incidents qui s'y rattachent. Les eclaircissements, explications, ou interpretations que l'Honorable Ministre de I'Education est en mesure de produire, faciliteront, s'ils parviennent en temps utile aux autorites metropolitain.es compotentes de la Grande Bretagne, la discussion des faits et points de droit, et aideront a la conclusion d'arrangements satisfaisants. JOUFFEOY D'ABBANS.,

[Translation.] The Vice-Consul for France in New" Zealand has read the memorandum addressed by the Hon. the Minister of Education to the Hon. the Premier, bearing date the sth October. The Vice-Consul seizes this opportunity of expressing to those members of the New Zealand Government who, from the nature of their functions, were called upon to take part legitimately in the question of the extradition of the convicts Cury and Gasparini, his sincere and grateful appreciation of their perfect courtesy, and their zealous, energetic, and most loyal co-operation. He has particularly every reason to be pleased with the excellent action of the Hon. the Premier, the AttorneyGeneral, and the Minister of Justice. As regards the Hon. the Minister of Education, the Viee-Consurfor France fully accepts his declaration that he never had any intention of hindering the course of justice or the action of the competent authorities. The Vice-Consul does not call in question, the Hon. the Minister's sincerity, and consequently will eliminate, so far as concerns the Hon. the Minister and his entourage, all personal questions, and all allegations of motives. He will only retain the facts, whether of public notoriety, or witnessed by himself, or well established by documents, which seem to show that the Hon. Minister of Education does not share the ViceConsul's views in the matter of the interpretation of treaties, of international usage, and of consular jurisdiction. The questions at issue will from henceforth be mainly of a technical nature. Their solution, to which a real international interest is attached, will only have the greater authority if they be the result of exchange of opinions and agreement between the only competent judges in such matters —namely, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs in the capitals concerned. The Vice-Consul further does not hesitate to inform the Hon. Minister of Education that the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and for Marine at Paris are already officially apprised by different French authorities, diplomatic, consular, and colonial, of the extradition case before mentioned, as well as of the principal incidents belonging thereto. The elucidations, explanations, and interpretations that the Hon. Minister of Education is about to produce will, if,they reach the authorities in England in sufficient time, facilitate the discussion of the facts and points of law, and will assist the conclusion of satisfactory arrangements. JOUFFROY D'ABBANS.

No. 5. Memorandum from His Excellency the Governor to the Premier. Extradition of Prisoner Gasparini. — Reply to Hon. Mr. Fisher's Memorandum, sth October, 1888. The Hon. the Premier. The French Consul sent me the enclosed memorandum yesterday evening. It will be observed that it eliminates all personal considerations and allegations of motive from the matter which has been under discussion. It remains only that Mr. Fisher should offer his explanation on the other statements of the Consul. 13/10/88. W. F. D. J. For the Hon. the Minister o Education.—H. A. Atkinson. 14/10/88.

No. 6. The Hon. the Premier. The French Consul's letter, dated 11th October, is to me of an exceedingly unsatisfactory nature. I therefore request that my memorandum of 29th September, which, under advice, I withheld, may without delay be forwarded to His Excellency the Governor. I regard it as a cause of justifiable complaint that the French Consul should have forwarded to the. Minister foF Foreign Affairs and the Minister foj* Marine at Paris letters containing such seriously inaccurate statements as those contained in the letter of 11th September to His Excellency the Governor; and I further regret that I should only now, at this late date, be informed of this for the first time. I desire to be informed whether the French Consul is to be permitted to peruse my memorandum of 29th September, and to comment upon. it. I claim the right to answer him. 15/10/88, Geo. Fisher.

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