§ MR. SALTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any action has been taken on the part of France in contravention of Articles 1 1518 and 2 of the Treaty of 19th June 1847, between Great Britain and France, guaranteeing the absolute independence of certain islands in the Pacific?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe French flag was hoisted at Raiatea, an island to the leeward of Tahiti, shortly before Her Majesty's Government assumed Office, and a provisional protectorate assumed over, it by the French authorities at Tahiti, at the solicitation of the Chiefs of the Island; but the proceeding was disavowed by the French Government as an infraction of the Declaration of June 19, 1847. The French Government, however, opened negotiations for the abrogation of the Declaration in consideration of adequate concessions on their part in connection with other pending questions; and Her Majesty's Government have consented that the French flag shall remain provisionally hoisted at Raiatea until the 31st of December next, when, unless otherwise agreed between the two Governments, the status quo ante under the Declaration of 1847 will be reverted to.