§ SIR CHARLES WINGFIELDasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the acknowledgment by Her Majesty's Government of the Government established by a section of the white settlers in the Fiji Islands as a de facto Government places those Islands in the position of an independent state, and consequently exempts vessels sailing under the Fijian flag from search by Her Majesty's ships of war, and from compliance with the provisions of the Pacific Islanders Protection Act?
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDIt is not considered that the recognition of the de facto Government of Fiji debars Her Majesty's Government from interfering with the acts of British subjects within that territory when circumstances require it. Occasion of searching vessels sailing under the Fijian flag does not appear to have arisen; but the hon. Member may possibly like to know that an Act for the regulation of native and foreign labour, based on our "Pacific Islanders Protection Act," has been passed by the Fiji Legislative Assembly, which permits ships of all nations to deal with Fijian vessels contravening its provisions.