MR. GORSTsaid, he should like to know what the policy of Her" Majesty's Government was with regard to the Australian Colonies, and the shocking condition of the Islands of the Western Pacific? The Colonists found upon their Border territory that was gradually becoming a kind of Alsatia, where the most frightful crimes wore committed by both White men and Natives. The Pacific Islanders Act of 1875 had failed to meet the case, because the jurisdiction it gave could be exercised over British subjects only. The Colonists asked what steps Her Majesty's Government would take, and offered to bear their share of the cost of what was to be done, and also offered to confederate themselves to support the Imperial Government? If Her Majesty's Government were deaf to these remonstrances and appeals, how could we expect to retain our hold upon the Colonies?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYsaid, it did not require the well-chosen words of the hon. and learned Member to impress upon the Government the importance of this matter. That the state of things called for our intervention was one of the grounds why the Colonies had approached us; and he did not deny that there were great excesses, which would probably increase unless means were taken to check them. He demurred to the suggestion that there was anything impossible in the hope that maritime nations would agree as to the law and the tribunals that might be resorted to. He would draw the attention of his hon. and learned Friend to the concluding paragraphs of Lord Derby's despatch, in reply to the despatch of the Officer administering the Government of Queensland, which stated that, while disapproving of the annexation of New Guinea, Her Majesty's Government were willing to take steps at once—the date was 11th July—to strengthen our Naval Force, so as to enable ships to be more constantly present in the neighbourhood of those Islands than hitherto, and that in this way we might gradually establish a Protectorate capable of meeting the requirements of the case for some 1550 time to come without incurring objections to which other courses might be open. Instructions, indeed, had been sent out to the Naval Force to be more active; and, in the meantime, a Committee were considering, and were about to report to the Government, what measures they could recommend in reference to the question. The Government were most anxious in every way to give the fullest consideration to the representations that had been made to them on behalf of the Colonies. The honour, prestige, and credit of this country must be associated with the future of the Colonies; and he agreed that there was some force in the dread which they entertained lest foreign nations should establish Convict Settlements in that part of the world. The large question of Federation was one on which the Colonies had not made up their minds; but it was a question that would grow, though a considerable time must elapse, in order to its full development. The Government would strain every point, consistently with their view of the interests of this country, to meet the views of the Australian Colonies; but having ascertained that there was no intention on the part of any Foreign Government to establish themselves in those parts, the Government, therefore, did not feel warranted in rushing at once into such an enormous undertaking as the annexation of the whole of New Guinea, except the Eastern portion, which was claimed by Holland. Her Majesty's Government would rather see the interests of Australia protected by some course more gradual, more cautious, and more consistent with the desire not to overburden the Imperial power with great responsibilities than the simpler and somewhat brutal means of annexation; and he was convinced that the Colonies would give their most careful examination to the views of the Government.