THE AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE.
TilAustralian Republic begins its career by proclaiming he "Monroe Doctrine." There can be little doubt that the Federal Representative Committee, which met at Sydney on November 28th, will succeed in devising a plan for the Federation of the Colonies into a single Dominion, though they may be compelled by fiscal and geographical difficulties to make the area of action of the central power at first unduly narrow. Still, the Delegates, who are all the ruling men 'of their respective Colonies, 'hare already passed unani- mous -resolutions which 'practically bind them to . create a Central Government, controlling foreign policy, arma- ments, the militia law, and, we should imagine, as necessarily connected with defence, all means of inter- communication. This Government will probably be sup- ported, like the Imperial Government of Germany, by fixed contributions ; and will be guided, like that of Austria, by "Delegations,"—that is, in English phraseology, by a small Senate elected by the Legislatures. Most of these things follow almost of necessity from the Resolutions, which call upon the British Government to act in certain directions, and promise it, if it does so act, that it shall be sustained by the united strength of the federated Pacific Colonies.
The acts indicated are of the highest importance. Not only is the British Government requested to annex all Eastern New Guinea—to be governed, it is understood, as a " Territory " of the Australian Dominion—but it is asked to negotiate with France for the acquisition of the New Hebrides—now declared neutral ground—and for the cessation of the transport of con- victs to any island of the South Pacific ; and is informed that, in the judgment of the Representatives of Australia, "the further acquisition of dominion in the Pacific south of the Equator by any foreign Power would be highly detrimental to the safety and well-being of the British possessions in Austral- asia, and injurious to the interests of the Empire." The Government is, in fact, asked to secure to the Australian Dominion, now about to be founded, a monopoly of territorial extension in the Antipodean world, a position in the South Pacific identical with that claimed by the United States upon the two American Continents.
The policy announced is one which will rather startle the Colonial Office, and may even try the nerve of Parlia- ment; but we do not know, if Australia strongly federates herself, that it is unreasonable. The Delegates assembled in Conference are only anticipating history a little. The Dominion already contains as many people as did the United States when they set up for themselves, and probably disposes of more wealth ; and it will, within fifty years, if no political convulsion occurs, be a Republic with twenty millions of people and fifty millions of revenue. Such a Republic, in- habited by vigorous and prosperous Englishmen, accustomed to freedom and to maritime enterprise, will unquestionably, from its geographical position, maintain a powerful Fleet, and will be able to possess itself, if it pleases, of the whole South Pacific. Neither France nor any other Power could dream of fighting Australia in those waters, and for any Power to settle there would be only to court ultimate defeat. It will be well, therefore, if it is possible, to prohibit annexations in advance ; and with Australia so strongly moved, it may be possible, though the negotiations may be at once difficult and dangerous. The French mania for Colonial extension is sure to pass, as it always has done ; and her desire to transport irreconcileable criminals will not survive, when it is found that if they escape, Australia will invariably send them back to France. At all events, we and the world now know what the foreign policy of Australia is, and in what direction, if we wish to keep the Southern Colonies, our own policy must press, and that knowledge must be an important factor in all negotiations. New Guinea, it is clear, must be annexed ; France must be compelled to keep her pledge as to the New Hebrides ; and for the rest, we and the remainder of the world must remember that, long be- fore the present generation has died out, Australians will be able to defend their own ideas in arms, and that the quality in Australians which differentiates them alike from English- men and Americans is a certain rapidity of decision. A secluded world feels checks from the outside very little. This idea of Federation, for example, has ripened, so to speak, in a day.
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