Futre of South Pacific
p. 29 · Read in the full issue
Smal Picture Of
He British Empire
Futre of South Pacific Countries
PRIVATE letter from London L to Pacific Islands Monthly says that there has been “a good deal activity in the British Colonial fice lately in relation to South cific affairs”. But the only recent dence of any pending new move s the report, published in No nber in an obscure Sydney news per, that “Britain is about to andon her interests in the New brides Condominium to France”. 3 robably, there is something afoot relation to the British Terri ies in the South Pacific (Fiji, lomon Islands, Gilbert and Ellice, 1 the British side of the New brides).
Jut Ministers and Governors vadays are extremely wary in king any statement covering obabilities”. One word suggesting interesting change—and the ole press pack is off, presenting dr fantastic imaginings as facts. 7he rapid shrinkage in the tish Colonial Empire since 1945 > created many embarrassments Britain. There is not enough ionial Empire now for the large ff of trained administrative cials and technicians; and there not enough money. iolonies and dependencies like the omons, Gilbert and Ellice and v Hebrides are so undeveloped nomically that they are not able pay for their own administrative chinery; and Britain would be d to be rid of them. They are worth holding even as a unit in tish overseas trade.
EIERE are a few realists among the people who direct British Colonial Office affairs; and it is sible that these people already giving some urgent attention to future of the British High Com ision for the Western Pacific lomons, New Hebrides and bert and Ellice). ►ur London correspondent, writ in December, said: “The Gen erative Council here has formed ‘Australasian Branch’ for the ly of South Pacific affairs, with Keith Officer as chairman. He re d from the post of Australian bassador to France in 1955, and s in England. I am not impressed h the possibilities of the new inch’, [t is the same everywhere. Every ig connected with our old Em -5 now seems to be in the hands Doliticians, bureaucrats, academic hbrows and dawdling nobodies —
and the sands are running out. The really strong and practical men who built the Empire, and who could hold it, are completely cynical, and don’t care any more—they are leav ing it all to the idealists and dream ers, and concentrating their atten tion on money-making. For the time being! ”
Hostage to Fortune . . .
This newly completed block of shops in Honiara, BSIP, helps give the town a new look. There are 10 shops in the block— which could be regarded as an indication of the owners' faith in the Solomons' small capital.
Photo: A. de Theye.