HC Deb 18 August 1883 vol 283 cc1115-8
MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

said, he wished to call the attention of the Prime Minister to the fact that he had the following Motion on the Paper:— That, in view of the unanimous wish of Her Majesty's loyal and flourishing Australian Colonies, that a British Protectorate should he established over New Guinea and the adjacent Islands, and of the importance of securing those Islands from the influence of any Foreign Power, an humble Address he presented to Her Majesty, praying Her Majesty to establish an Imperial Protectorate over New Guinea and the adjacent Islands. In view of the lateness of the Session, however, he did not wish to take up the time of the House; and he would simply ask whether the right hon. Gentleman would inform the House exactly how matters stood at present? This subject was first brought to the notice of the Government by a deputation representing the Australian Colonies, who were unanimously in favour of the annexation of New Guinea. The Colonies considered the position of that Island to Australia, and especially to Queensland, was a very important and commanding one. In view of threatened annexation—in view of the extraordinary development of aggressive tendencies on the part of the French Republic, and perhaps other nations, it was of great importance to the Australian Colonies that this question should not be considered as decided. It would be a very serious matter for our Australian Colonies if a great European Power were to occupy New Guinea, or if that Island were to be turned into a Foreign Convict Settlement. There had been a unanimous expression of opinion on behalf of the Australian Colonies that a British Protectorate, at all events, should be established over New Guinea and the adjacent Islands. He hoped that wish would be granted. He had asked the Prime Minister a Question on the subject the other day; and he understood, from the rather curt and uncertain answer of the right hon. Gentleman, that the question was not to be considered as decided in a sense unfavourable to the wish of the Australian Colonies. "Without going into details, he should feel much obliged if the Prime Minister would state whether the Australian Colonies and the country at large might consider this question as still an open one, and as not having been yet decided by Her Majesty's Government in a sense unfavourable to the wishes of the Colonists?

MR. GLADSTONE

Sir, in answering the Question of the hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett), I must except from my reply that which he stated as a matter of his own opinion, as to the present tendencies of the French Republic. I have nothing to say upon that subject at all. I am very far from making any accusation against that, or any other Foreign Government, in respect to an undue tendency to acquire territory. But, with regard to New Guinea, I may repeat, what I think has been stated on the part of the Government before, that we have no reason whatever to apprehend any intention on the part of any Foreign Government to make new territorial claims or establishments with respect to that Island. With regard to the direct Question of the hon. Gentleman, I conceive the position to be this—The matter was brought under our notice in connection with a particular proceeding on the part of the Government of Queensland; and the immediate question for us to consider was, whether we should confirm the so-called annexation of New Guinea—whether we should keep the question open for explanation in regard to that annexation, or whether we should decline altogether, and should annul the proceeding, and quash it by the authority of the Crown. It was the last of these courses on which we decided, and that proceeding has been absolutely quashed, and has no legal force whatever. But, in doing so, it was not necessary for us to say anything as to the future; and to say that there were no circumstances whatever under which any question relating to future measures, with respect either to the coast, or to particular spots, or particular islands, might or might not be entertained. The whole of that subject remains exactly as it would have been in case the proceedings of Queensland had never taken place. The hon. Gentleman, I think, is in error in saying that the views of the Australian Colonies were laid before us by a deputation. The deputation, if I am correct in my recollection, had relation, strictly speaking, to particular islands, much smaller islands, and not to the great country, if I may so call it, of New Guinea. What is the real wish of the Australian Colonies I need not now inquire or refer to. It is perfectly open to the Australian Colonies to make known any wish they may entertain on the subject; and, of course, it is the duty of the Government, on whatever subject, to give a respectful and careful attention to any expression of opinion which they may deem it proper to make. That is, I think, as far as I can go in answer to the hon. Gentleman's Question.

MR. MACFARLANE

said, the right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister had stated that the Government had no reason to apprehend that any other European country was likely to annex New Guinea. But the Government would not be likely to know what were the intentions of other countries. It was generally imagined that anyone prowling about for annexation purposes would do it like a thief in the night, without announcing any intention of the kind beforehand. He would like to ask whether the House was to infer, from what the right hon. Gentleman had said, that other Governments had given any assurance to Her Majesty's Government that they would not annex this Island, which was so near the door of our Australian Colonies?

MR. GLADSTONE

I do not think, Sir, I need go into any further details on this matter; but, in reply to the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Macfarlane), I may say that the evidence on which I spoke, when I said there was no reason to apprehend any intention of a particular kind on the part of any foreign country to annex New Guinea, is by no means confined to mere negative testimony.

Question put, and agreed to.