§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen. S.)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, in the negotiations now proceeding for the evacuation by France of the New Hebrides, the French. Government have endeavoured to associate that question with questions relating to the Suez Canal and to the future of Egypt; whether Her Majesty's Government will continue to press for an immediate and separate solution of the New Hebrides questions, and will insist on the view that the former question should be forthwith disposed of, without waiting for the settlement of the more debateable matters which relate to the Suez Canal and Egypt; whether any habitual criminals have lately been sent from Franco to any of the French Colonies in the Pacific; and, whether it is the fact that settlers from France continue to establish themselves in the New Hebrides?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)The French Government have desired that the negotiations in regard to the New Hebrides and the 1714 Suez Canal should proceed pari passu; but have not sought to associate the former with questions relating to Egypt generally. Her Majesty's Government, while not objecting to discuss the two subjects at the same time, have in no way consented that the withdrawal of the French troops from the New Hebrides should be postponed until an agreement had been arrived at for the neutralization of the Suez Canal. Her Majesty's Government are pressing upon the French Government that the negotiations should be brought to a close in respect to this subject, upon which the two Governments are perfectly agreed in principle. No shipment of habitual criminals to New Caledonia has lately been reported. The last of which we have any knowledge took place in November last. It is the fact that settlers continuo to be sent from France to the New Hebrides. The right hon. Gentleman added: I may take this opportunity of saying that as I promised that the Papers on this subject should be presented on an early day, I may inform the House that I am not able to fulfil that promise. Since it was made communications have passed between the two Governments, and also further despatches, which cannot be presented to the House while the Correspondence is in progress.
§ MR. BRYCEsaid, that in consequence of the answer he would feel bound to call attention to the subject on the Diplomatic Vote.