A.—4

30

received from Lord Derby a corresponding assurance in return. When in the beginning of last year two of the islands of this group were occupied by a small French force, a general apprehension was created, especially among the colonists of Australia and New Zealand, that a policy was in contemplation not consistent with the assurances the Marquis d'Harcourt had been instructed to convey. The French Government have, however, constantly assured us, in a categorical manner, that they entertained no projects of annexation, and that they were prepared to remove their troops as soon as sufficient security was given to them that the lives and properties of French settlers upon the islands would be protected from attacks by the natives. The provisions of the draft Convention which is enclosed seem well calculated to effect the objects which both Governments desire. But the acceptance of it by Her Majesty's Government must be entirely conditional on an undertaking by the French Government that the evacuation shall not be postponed beyond a fixed date. The French Government are anxious that this opportunity shall be taken to release them from an engagement entered into in 1847 to the effect that they would not assume the protectorate of the Island of Baiatea, near Tahiti. The desirability of acceding to this proposal, under certain conditions, has for several years been admitted by Her Majesty's Government. In the autumn of 1880 it was proposed to make this concession simultaneously with a convention which was being negotiated for the settlement of the disputed fishery questions in Newfoundland. In view of the probability of this convention being concluded, Lord Granville, in October, 1880, consented " to a provisional French protectorate over the island for a strictly limited time." The agreement for that purpose was renewed at the end of six months, and since then has been renewed every six months up to the present time. The Newfoundland Convention, which was to have made the French protectorate of Baiatea definitive, was signed in October, 1885 ; but it contained a provision that it should not be ratified until it had been accepted by the Legislature of Newfoundland. Before its signature it had been submitted to that colony, and, in its ultimate form, was not objected to by them. There was no ground to apprehend its final rejection. After its signature, however, an objection—which proved in the judgment of the colony fatal—-was taken to an article in it which gave to the French fishermen liberty to purchase bait in the colonial waters ; and during the present year a Bill has passed the Legislature of Newfoundland, and has been approved, which is directly at variance with the stipulation as to the purchase of bait contained in the Convention. The result of this failure upon Eaiatea has been that, contrary to all expectation, the French protectorate has never been made definitive. It does not, however, appear to Her Majesty's Government desirable, or, indeed, practicable, to remit to an aboriginal Administration an island which has been for seven years under French government; and on this account, as well as in view of the peculiar circumstances attending the failure of the Convention of 1885, they are willing to transfer the stipulation in question to the present Convention, subject, of course, to the undertakings given in a note verbale to Lord Lyons on the 21th October, 1885. I have, &c, Salisbuey.

Sub-Enclosure 2. Deaft op New Hebeides Convention. Aeticle I. Le Gouvernement de Sa Majesty Britannique consent a proceder k Fabrogation de la Declaration de 1847, relative au groupe des lies Sous-le-Vent de Tahiti, aussitot qu'aura et6 mis a execution I'accord ci-apres formule pour la protection, a l'avenir, des personnes et des biens aux NouvellesHebrides, au moyen d'une Commission Mixte. Aeticle 11. Une Commission Navale Mixte, composee d'officiers de marine appartenant aux stations Francaise et Anglaise du Pacifique sera immediatement constitute; elle sera chargee de maintenir l'ordre et de proteger les personnes et les biens des sujets Francais et Britanniques dans les Nouvelles-Hebrides. Aeticle 111. Une Declaration a, cet effet sera signee par les deux Gouvernements. Article IV. Les Beglements destines a guider la Commission seront elabores par les deux Gouvernements, approuves par eux et transmis aux Commandants Francais et Anglais des batiments de la station navale du Pacifique, dans un delai qui n'excedera pas quatre mois a partir de la signature de la presente Convention, s'il n'est pas possible de le faire plus tot. Aeticle V. Des que ces Beglements auront ete approuves par les deux Gouvernements et que les postes militaires Francais auront pu, par suite, etre retires des Nouvelles-Hebrides, le Gouvernement de Sa Majeste Britannique procedera a Fabrogation de la Declaration de 1847. II est entendu que les assurances relatives au commerce et aux condamnes qui sont contenues dans la note verbale du 24 Octobre, 1885, communiquee par M. de Freycinet a Lord Lyons, demeureront en pleine vigueur.

Sub-Enclosure "3. M. Floubens to Mr. Egerton. Sib,— Paris, 22nd October, 1887. I have received communication of the despatch which Lord Salisbury has addressed to you on the subject of the Convention relating to the New Hebrides and Leeward Islands of Tahiti, which has resulted from communications between the two Governments. The despatch is accom-