HC Deb 11 August 1884 vol 292 cc438-9
SIR WILLIAM M'ARTHUR

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the "Protection," mentioned in Lord Derby's Despatch of the 9th May 1884, to the Governors of the Australian Colonies, as intended to be established in New Guinea, and towards the cost of which the Australian Colonies had agreed to pay £15,000 for the year, will establish complete jurisdiction of the British Government over New Guinea and the adjacent Islands, so as to afford protection to the Natives, not only against the lawlessness of British subjects, but against the lawlessness of the subjects of other Nations?

MR. GLADSTONE

The protection mentioned in the Despatch of Lord Derby is in the nature of a protection which Her Majesty's Government advised the Queen to establish over so much of the coast of New Guinea as lies to the eastward of the Dutch Possessions, or the Dutch claim upon the Southern Coast of that Island, but excluding some portions which lie to the North, as well as that portion which is claimed by Holland on the Northern side. I cannot, at this moment, give a minute definition now of the line up to which this Protectorate will extend; but within the limits of it it will answer the purpose mentioned by my hon. Friend in his Question—that is to say, the jurisdiction of Her Majesty's Government will be sufficient to afford protection to the Natives against lawless action, by whomsoever taken, whether by British subjects or foreigners. The jurisdiction does not extend to the Islands to the North and East of New Guinea.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

asked whether the Government of the Netherlands had been communicated with on the subject?

MR. GLADSTONE

I do not see why there should be any communication with the Government of the Netherlands, inasmuch as everything to which that Government lay claim has been carefully excluded from the arrangement.

SIR HENRY HOLLAND

asked whether an independent High Commissioner would be appointed to govern New Guinea?

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

said, that it was proposed as soon as possible to select and appoint a High Commissioner apart from, and independent of, the Governorship of Fiji. The matter had been delayed for some time, mainly owing to the uncertainty of what the jurisdiction would be.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

asked whether the High Commissioner would be a Cabinet Minister?