§ 47. Sir J. Mellorasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his 1249 attention has been called to the dispute regarding British sovereignty in Canton Island, lying between Suva and Honolulu; and whether he will make a statement as to the position?
§ 49. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement as to the recent incident between the New Zealand sloop "Wellington" and the United States seaplane tender "Avocet" at Canton Island, in the Western Pacific?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreCanton Island, with the other islands forming the Phoenix Group, is included in the British Colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, which are administered under our High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. I have been informed by the High Commissioner that, when His Majesty's ship "Wellington" recently arrived at Canton Island with an expedition from New Zealand to view the solar eclipse, the commanding officer found the United States ship "Avocet" anchored there, having on board a similar American expedition, and that he was informed by the captain of the "Avocet" that British sovereignty over the island was not admitted by the United States Government. The position thus disclosed is being considered.