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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 78

The Pacific and the Panama Canal

The Pacific and the Panama Canal.

Before we proceed to use our data in discussing the best course to adopt to ensure the continuance of British Supremacy at sea, it will be as well to examine how the problem affects New Zealand and Australia as parts of the Empire. It is of moment, too, to remember that it has not been so much the aggressive obtrusion of Foreign Powers into the Pacific, that Australasia has hitherto had reason to fear, or suffer, as the supineness and sometimes apparently the utter indifference cf the British Government to the best interests of the Pacific colonies and of the Empire. The tale of neglect and indifference is a long one, reaching its culminating point, perhaps the New Hebrides Convention recently arranged between Great Britain and France, concerning which the great self-governing colonies were not even consulted.* Had it not been for this neglectful indifference to the best interests of the Empire, on the part of successive British Governments, the Union Jack would have floated over all, or nearly all the islands of the Pacific. Let it be remembered, too, that the British Government can offer no excuse for this neglect. It ignored, or neglected to properly consider, the requests and persistent protests of such prominent colonial statesmen as Sir George Grey, Sir Robert Stout, the Hon. R. J. Seddon, Sir Henry Parkes, Mr. Barton, Mr. Deakin, and other leading members of the Australasian Governments. To be sure that this statement is correct let us take a few facts.

page 7

As far back as 1853 Sir George Grey urged upon the British Government the expediency of annexing New Caledonia, one of the largest islands in the Pacific. Downing Street neglected to do so, although the Island chiefs themselves desired annexation. France stepped in, with the result that this large and richly endowed island is now a French possession. The valuable Samoan Islands, on the direct trade route to San Francisco and the Panama Canal, stand in similar case. The king and islanders wished these islands to be made a dependency of New Zealand. Everything was ready to accomplish this result. The steamer with the official party was ready to leave, but the Little England Government again intervened. Samoa was lost to the Empire, and the greater part of it became an appendage of Germany; the remainder going to America. The Sandwich Islands, too, also on the trade route to the Great Western Continent, although their people desired British protection, were allowed to become American property. As Sir Robert Stout, and Sir Julius Vogel, had urged in the case of Samoa, Mr. Seddon again urged in the case of Hawaii. He entered a rigorous protest against American annexation. During one of his visits to the Mother Country he did all in his power to preserve these strategically important islands for the Empire, but without avail. No one knew better than our late lamented Premier that once the Islands became an American possession the coastwise laws of the United States would prevail, and New Zealand would be practically shut out from the Samoan trade. Before this annexation about one-third of the trading between San Francisco and New Zealand were owned by New Zealand merchants and traders. These trading vessel have now for the most part disappeared.

Why continue the tale? Samoa, New Caledonia, the greater part of the New Guinea group, and many others, have all permanently passed away from the aegis of the British flag; and to think that they might have remained Anglo-Keltic for all time, and have thus offered no barriers to the expansion and predominance of the British race in the Pacific!

Most of the islands mentioned form a set of stepping stones from our own Colony, and Australia, to the Pacific terminus of the Panama Canal. Their loss to the Empire, as the late Mr. Seddon most strenuosly pointed out, is irreparable. Their occupation by foreign powers has rendered the condition of the Australasian colonies less secure. They will form the coaling stations, harbours of refuge, and ports of call for any hostile fleet that may invade the Pacific for the purpose of attacking British colonies there. Many of these islands of great strategical and commercial importance, and should have been made inalienable British territory, when the opportunity of making them so-was so utterly easy. Well might Mr. Seddon exclaim, in his own vigorous way, that it was a pity that such Little England statesmen as those who had lost us these valuable territories should page 8 ever have been entrusted with the destinies of Great Britain and the Empire.

It is of paramount importance, therefore, that no further encroachments of foreign powers in the Pacific should be permitted. Great Britain, and no other Power, should dominate this vast ocean. Within a very few years the Panama Canal will be open for traffic. The result will be a shifting of the centre of gravity of the whole world. The need of British imperialism, and true federation, will be emphasised. The Australasian colonies, and the Islands of the Pacific, will be brought nearer to Europe, nearer to the great heart of the Empire. Newer strategical, commercial, and sociological problems will arise, and will await and require solution. As Mr. Seddon cogently pointed out, "The future of the Pacific will be greatly changed by the opening of the Panama Canal from what it would have been under old conditions. The number of industries will be greatly affected. Unless British statesmen grasp the situation, and provide therefor, they will find in years to come the weak spot in the armour of the Empire. They will find that the most deadly blow the Empire can sustain will be dealt in the Pacific itself."

These are pregnant, sagacious, and perhaps prophetic words, that should not be disregarded by our people of the Southern Seas, and should show us the necessity of doing all in our power towards assisting the Mother Country to maintain the supremacy of her sea power. To do this they must, as the Navy League is doing, strive to keep the British Government on the alert to the necessity of keeping up and even increasing the naval strength of the Empire, and of making such defensive alliances with friendly naval powers as will ensure either peace or victory.

* A possible explanation of this alleged neglect is given on page 8 of this article.