A.—2.

No. 99 New Zealand, No. 210. My Lord,— Downing Street, 3rd December, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 144, of the 16th July, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the enclosed copy of a despatch addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, stating that the French Ambassador at Madrid has been instructed to concert with His Majesty's representative at that Court, with a view to approaching the King of Spain in regard to the appointment of a President and a Public Prosecutor for the Joint Court in the New Hebrides. His Majesty's Government are instructing the British representative at Madrid accordingly. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosures. No. 460. Sin, — Paris, 25th November, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 427. of the 30th ultimo, 1 have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note from th<? French Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that the Minister of the Colonies has expressed the opinion that, as the buildings necessary for the accommodation of the New Hebrides Joint Court are now finished, there is no objection to approaching the King of Spain forthwith with a view to the nomination by His Majesty of a President and Public Prosecutor for the Court. The French Ambassador at Madrid has accordingly been instructed to concert with His Majesty's representative on the subject. M. Pichon adds that, according to information received by the Ministry of the Colonies, it would lx j desirable that the officials in question should etari for the New Hebrides in the month of February next at latest. I have, Ac, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey. Hart.. M.1 , , *c. Fbanois Bbrtik. M. Pichon to Sir F. Bbbtib. Monsieur l'Ambassadeuh, — Paris, le 22 Novembre, 1909. A la date dv 5 Octobre, Votre Excellence a bien voulu m'exprimer le desir de savoir si le gouvernement de la Republique etait pret a faire aupres de Sa Majeete le Roi d'Espagno, de concert avec le gouvernement britannique, la demarche prevue par la convention dv 20 Octobre, 1906, en vue de provoquer la designation dv president et dv procureur public de la Cour mixte dcs Nouvellss-Hebrides. M. le Ministre dcs colonies, que j'ai consulte a cc sujet, vient de me mander que, les installations destinees au tribunal mixte etant terminees, il n'a pas d'objection a cc que la demarche dont il s'agit soit immediatement effectuee. En consequence j'invite l'ambassadeur de la Republique a Madrid a s'entendre avec le representant de Sa Majeste Britannique a l'effet de sollicitre la designation dcs deux magistrate. D'apres les informations dv Pavilion de Flore il est desirable que ces magistrate puissent se mettre en route pour les Nouvelles-Hebrides dans le courant dv mois de Fevrier prochain au plus tard. Agreez, &c, S. Piohon.

No. 100. New Zealand, No. 212. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd December, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, three copies of an Act which has been passed by the Imperial Parliament to make better provision respecting naval establishments in British possessions. I also enclose a copy of the explanatory memorandum, which was attached to the Bill as originally introduced. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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