Lord Carnarvon has put his foot upon the project for
settling part of New Guinea, through an Association to be commanded by Lieutenant Armit. He has informed a deputation of the Anti- Slavery Society that he did not believe that a peaceful settlement could be made, there not being, with the exception of Missionaries, one white man in the island; and that, although he could not prevent forcible settlement under peaceful appearances, he could, as Minister, assure the projectors that their titles to the land would never be recognised, or their proceedings, if irregular, con- doned. He disapproves entirely the quasi-military character of the Association, and had, when he drew his Pacific Islanders Act, deliberately framed it so that he might, if need were, apply it to the protection of the coasts of New Guinea. Lord Carnarvon is quite right in maintaining that conquest is now-a-days work for Government alone, but we suspect he over-estimates his legal power. If a European expedition took service with a native chief, the legality of their action could scarcely be questioned.
Previous page
