British Responsibilities

Australia Urged To Take Over British Responsibilities

A RESOLUTION that Australia should the place of Great Britain as a partner with France in the control of the New Hebrides was made at the Austra lian Missionary Conference on April 7, during consideration of a report from missionary bodies working in the Group.

The report stated that the present Condominium was “a miserable compro mise between two great nations,” and condemned the natives and those who had their highest welfare at heart to almost intolerable conditions. Time after time, added the report, strong represen tations have been made to the Home authorities to terminate the Condomin ium. The clash of interests in the Hebrides is painful to contemplate.

Dr. A. S. Frater, superintendent of the John G. Paton Memorial Hospital at Vila, and a Condominium medical officer, de clared that the clash between British and

French ideals was partly responsible for the failure of the Condominium. The British Government had little interest in the New Hebrides, and refused to take a fair share in necessary expenses, which were borne mainly by the French, who had sunk millions of francs in the New Hebrides, and had no intention of with drawing.

“The only practical solution,” he said, “was for Australia to take over the British responsibilities. Australia had natural political interests in the Group, her missionaries had worked there for years, and she had large commercial in terests, including an export trade worth £50,000 a year.”

Dr. P. A. Micken urged that the pre sent form of dual control should be abolished, and a mandate given to Aus tralia by the League of Nations.