NEW HEBRIDES. (Hansard, 6 March 1899)

§ CAPTAIN SINCLAIR (Forfar)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to an interview between Sir George Turner and a deputation of members of the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, on which occasion Sir George Turner is reported in the Melbourne 1357 "Argus," of 21st December 1898, to have stated that— At the last meeting of the Federal Council a resolution had been carried declaring that fresh efforts should be made to induce the French Government to prohibit French subjects from selling liquor or firearms to natives of the New Hebrides, and that if such action were not taken in a reasonable time the restriction on British traders should be removed. In view of the facts submitted to him, he would ask the Federal Council at their next meeting to rescind the latter portion of the resolution; whether the Secretary of State has, as stated in the Melbourne "Evening Herald," of 6th December 1898, expressed himself as favourable to securing for British traders to the group equivalent rights with those of the French traders with respect to the sale of arms and alcohol to the natives; whether the Federal Council has rescinded the latter part of the resolution referred to above; whether there is any intention on the part of Her Majesty's Government to remove the restriction upon British traders, or in any way to permit or encourage the sale of liquor or firearms to these natives; whether any representations have been made to the French Government in consequence of the resolution of the Federal Council; and, if so, with what result; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will consider whether any steps can now be taken to establish among civilised and colonising nations international agreement and policy on the basis of prohibiting the sale of liquor and firearms to the people of the New Hebrides and other such native races?