MR. GORSTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention has been called to the following statement made by the late Governor General of Canada in The Nineteenth Century:—
It should not be possible for Downing Street to negotiate with France about the abrogation of her fishing rights in Newfoundland without informing Canada of what is contemplated. It should not be possible for British Ministers to propose that France be given islands in the Pacific in lieu of rights in Newfoundland without consulting Australia;whether the negotiations referred to by Lord Lorne are still pending, or are come to a conclusion; which are the islands in the Pacific that the Government proposed to give to France without consulting Australia; and, whether, before any Treaty is concluded, full information on the subject will be given to the Governments of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand and to the British Parliament?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYI have noticed the statement in question. The negotiations referred to are still pending. They relate to the Society Islands, part of the Tahiti group, and at a great distance from any part of Australia. They involve no cession of territory to France, but a possible waiver of rights under a declaration relating to those Islands in return for reciprocal concessions. There is no question of the conclusion of any Treaty. The interests of the Australian Colonies in these negotiations will not be lost sight of; but there is nothing which calls for any departure from the usual course of proceeding in such matters.