Colonial Office

And Fiji

Newspaper Discussion In London

From a Special Correspondent

London, Sept. 20.

PLERE has been an interesting discussion of “Fiji’s Problem” in The Daily Telegraph.

Mr. T. L. Iremonger, a Colonial Office man who was formerly in le Gilbert and Ellice Colony, and iji, and who appears to know what i happening in the Colonial Office, lid on September 11 that Colonial ecretary Oliver Lyttelton is “con dering” a Fiji Government request >r a Royal Commission to inquire ito the population problem. (Later report is that Commission now being selected.—Ed.) He said that a fair and up-to ite appraisal of the situation “is >und to be a shock for the Fijians.” e also said that if the worst should ippen, “the Fijians will not meekly lerate political and economic imination by an Asiatic immigrant ce.”

This brought into the discussion iptain Hugh M. Frewen, recently aster of the Melanesian in Fiji aters. He challenged Mr. Ire onger’s description of the Deed Cession as a “gentleman’s agree ent”—he says it very definitely is a Treaty. He cites the little- Lown fact that the Treaty pro les that New Zealand and New uth Wales indemnified Britain ainst financial loss in the gov ament of Fiji.

He said that the policy which rmitted the settlement in Fiji of ientured Indian labourers was a litical blunder of first magnitude.

' urges, as a solution, that Britain Duld prepare the way for a Pro itorate Government, to be admin ered wholly by the Fijians. He nks this would induce large lie migration by the Indians.

Commenting on this, Mr. Ire •nger declared there will be a ;ial explosion before such a Pro torate could be launched—and, any event, where will the Fiji iians migrate to? He argues that ; Fiji-born Indians have funda ntal rights—and the Colony’s isperity depends on their industry.

Various people here, interested in : matter, believe that the Colonial fice will again dodge the real je by setting up a Commission composed that it is certain to k a compromise with the Indians, ey say they do not like what y have seen recently.

Vhy cannot Australia and New iland—so vitally concerned with atic penetration of the South unc—take over the government Fiji?