The Daily bulletin., 1893-11-17
A BRITISH PACIFIC CABLE.
Imperial and Colonial Interest Grow
ing Warm.

ing warm.
The following is an editorial in
the New Zealand Herald:
A cable message from Sydney in
forms us that the Premiers of New |
South Wales and Victoria are will
ing to hold a conference, as suggest
ed by Mckenzie Bowel, the Can
adian Minister of Trade and Com
tnerce, in connection with the con
struction of Pacific cable The
Premier Of New South Wales is also
willing that the same conference
should discuss reciprocity treaty
with Canaua. There is now a gen
cral feeling Of regret that New
South Wales should have joined in
promoting a cable liue between Aus
tralia and New Caledonia, which
would be part of French line
across the Pacific. Queensland and
New South Wales have committed
themseles in "a guarantee for term
of years to the French company
that is laying the line between
Queensland and New Caledonia, and
il is part of the project that that
shall be the first link in a Pacific
cable. The Government of Victoria
has felt annoyed at the action of
| New South Wales and Queensland,
and has communicated with the I'M
perial authorities on the subject.
| rle British Government also strong
ly disapproves. Lord Ripon in
circular dispatch on the subject,
says: while regarding with salts
faction on general grounds the APP
proaching telegraphic connection Of
Australia with New Caledonia, Her
Ma jesty's Government cannot but
view with regret the action taken by
the Governments of Queensland and
New South Wales, as it implies a
departure from principles with re-
gard to colonial cohesion and con
,ideration of Imperial interests to
which prominence was given in the
discussion at the Colonial Confer
ence iu 1887, and as it appears to
diminish the chance of their assist
ance in laying any future Pacific
cables passing through possessions
or protected territory, and avoiding
possessions of European Powers.
Her Majesty's Government share the
views eApressad by the Victorian
government, that Inconvenience,
loss, and indeed danger to both
colona! and Imperial interests,
might arise i'll time of war
If the Pacific cable passed
through New Caledonia, aud they
cannot, from an Imperial point of
view, regard with approval an ar
rangement under which such cable
would touch foreign territory" The
, Premier OF Queensland replies tC
this despatch by saying that the
, sentiments expressed by the Secre
larry of State for the Colonies "are
based on reports of an exaggerated
r character He endeavors to turl
the tables on the Imperial authori
ties, though he does not improve hi:
own case, by referring to how Eng
land has dealt with New Guinea auC
New Caledonia. He says that l.
England had acted according tC
colonial ideas. there would never have
, ueen word about cable to New
Caledonia. The most effective stel
= which the Imperial Government
substantial aid to the construction
Of a complete Pacific service, which
would be entirely under British con
e troll. The New South Wales Govern
). ment appear to have entered into tn,
project without much thought Of tn
, consequences which might be in
voived, and there is strong feeling
= in that colony itself that seriou
' mistake has been made. The cabl,
:. Lille now spoken of as subject o
, conference would touch only OF
British territory, and would eros
u The American continent within tn
l. Canadian Dominion. But to com
G meuce a project for second Pacif
n line might be regarded by those con
, nected with the French company a
:. :. 10 some extent breach of faith, an,
besides New South Wales is not in
j. position to give such effective aid a
l. she was before making an engage
inent for the New Caledonia line
This is another occurrence showin
t the necessity for colonial federation
}. SO that one colony, inspired by
II petty feeling of rivalry, shall no
J. take action in matter which ma
, vitally affect the interests of all tn
colonies OF these seas, and whicl
r. may have an important bearing o
1t the welfare of the whole Empire
" A Federal Government would, as
70 matter of course, have entire charg
u of such business as cable connectio
D. with the rest of the world, an
L. would not act except after consulti
H. ton with the Imperial Government
- Chamberlain's Collie, Cholera an
Diarrh9a Remedy.