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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 78

Our Foreign Neighbours

Our Foreign Neighbours.

Mr. Deakin, the Federal Prime Minister, when in London last year, made an allusion in a speech at the Pilgrims' Club to the propinquity of European Powers in the Pacific being likely to prove a source of serious apprehension in the future. "We have," he remarked, "some European neighbours in the South Seas who would not have been there if the British Government had listened to early warnings." And a glance at the map shows that he might have said a good deal more on the subject without overstating the position. France has New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, the Society Islands (Tahiti). the Paumotu Group, the Marquesas, and several smaller groups, while she exercises a powerful influence in the New Hebrides. Germany owns the Bismarck Archipelago (comprising New Britain and other large and valuable islands), and a large slice of New Guinea, part of the Solomons, the two largest islands of the Samoan Group, the Marshall Islands, and the Carolines, Pelew Group, and Ladrones, the three last-named being sold by Spain to Germany after the Spanish-American war for a cash bid of about £850,000. America has got Hawaii. Tutuila and other islands in the Samoan Group, Guam in the Ladrones, various scattered islands in the North Pacific, and the Philippines. Practically every atoll has been located and pre-empted by one or other of the great Powers, and there is no use in our crying over spilt milk now.

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It is obviously possible that Great Bri tain's placid acqlicence in the gradual approach of foreign nations toward Australasia may cost us a heavy expenditure in defence some day, but leaving that as-poet of the question for the present, what are Australia and New Zealand doing to strengthen their footing in this teritory that ought to be so largely our own, and to promote a more intimate association with the islands in sentiment and action?