Pacific Islands

Julian Amery's Visit

Future Of British Pacific Islands Under Examination

There could be considerable significance in this month’s unexpected visit to the South Pacific Territories of Mr. Julian Amery, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the British Colonies, who will be ac companied by Mr. H. P. Hall, head of the Pacific and Indian Ocean Sections of the Colonial Office.

MR. AMERY will arrive in Sydney on September 15, and fly directly to New Zealand; and in Wellington he will have discussions with representatives of the Australian and New Zealand Territories Departments, in relation to the South Pacific countries where Britain has joint interests with the Dominions.

From New Zealand, Mr. Amery and Mr. Hall will fly to Australia; and thence they will fly north tc visit Papua and New Guinea, as guests of the Australian Govern ment.

Mr. Amery will proceed from New Guinea to the British Solomon Islands (due in Honiara on Sep tember 26); and thence to New Hebrides, and on to Fiji.

Important Tour

Mr. Amery will be in Fiji in the early part of October; and the indications are that, from Fiji, he will visit Tonga and the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony.

He and his party are due back in London on October 30.

It is considered certain that Mr' Amery will examine, not only the local administrative conditions ir the several Territories and Colonies which they will visit, but also— • The future interests of New Zealand and Australia in relation to Fiji and Tonga. • The future defence of South Pacific Islands against growing anti-West power in South and East Asia. • The future interests of Aus tralia and the Territory of Papus and New Guinea in relation to the British Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides Condominium. • The future of Fiji in relation to (a) the implementation of the recommendations of the Burn,* Report (b) the extent of Australia’s economic interests in Fiji and (cX the need for some degree of con stitutional reform in Fiji, to provide for rapidly changing population ano community changes there.

The outstanding post-war facton

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in the South Pacific Islands is growth of Australia’s strength t influence, and this will be ami the matters discussed by Mr. Am during his Pacific visit. 1 subject includes the future Solomons and New Hebrides, wh —although an expensive respi sibility of the British Coloi Office—is increasingly under influence of Australia.

Developments in the I* Hebrides have been such t Britain and France will shortly hi to get together and decide 1 where the Condominium is heac: Mr. Amery is a young man, of the Right Hon. L. S. Amery. had a very colourful World \ II record—he carried out sc dangerous secret missions in Balkans area; was wounded al he had been parachuted ii Albania to lead a force of esca[ Russian prisoners; and he was w Churchill’s personal representat in the Far East with Chis Kai-shek.